Nagaland: ANPA Warns of Public Health Crisis Amid Crackdown on Pharmacies Without Registered Pharmacists
First Published: 20th June, 2025 19:21 IST
ANPA warned that strict implementation without considering the state’s unique challenges could disrupt public healthcare.
With Nagaland’s Health Department cracking the whip and shutting pharmacies running without registered pharmacies, the All Nagaland Pharmacy Association (ANPA) has warned of a major public health crisis in the state.
With only 278 registered pharmacists available to serve over 1,100 pharmacies, the ANPA said that both rural and urban populations will soon be left without access to essential medicines unless the government urgently reconsiders its approach.
At a press conference in Kohima today, ANPA General Secretary Lima Yanger painted a grim picture of the impact of the Department of Health and Family Welfare’s (DH&FW) crackdown on pharmacies that do not employ certified pharmacists.
The association said the government is enforcing the rule without addressing the core issue: the acute shortage of qualified pharmacists in the state, which has no pharmacy institute of its own.
ANPA General Secretary Lima Yanger said, “We understand the requirements mandated by law and we are willing to abide by it, but Nagaland being the only state in India without a Pharmacy Institute is faced with acute shortage of Qualified Pharmacists. India being a developing country with inadequate manpower, to mitigate the shortfall of Qualified Pharmacist has introduced Diploma in Pharmacy courses but still cannot produce enough pharmacists. Moreover, no state in India has so far successfully implemented this policy. In fact, according to the Controlling and Licensing Authority, Nagaland is the first state to implement this policy.”
Yanger said that according to figures published by the Nagaland Post on February 14, 2025, the state has 1,157 licensed pharmacies but only 278 registered pharmacists.
The ANPA said, “After thorough analysis of the ground reality it is of the view that if the government is to implement this policy in its entirety will put the public health sector in complete disarray. Because even in Kohima, the state capital, some colonies like A.G, Merhulietsa, Lerie etc will be left without a single pharmacy. The situation is far worse in rural districts as Meluri has 6 pharmacies but no registered pharmacist; Shamator has 4 pharmacies with none; and Phek, with 34 pharmacies, has only two in-service pharmacists. The scenario in sub-divisions and remote areas is even more alarming, with the association warning that such enforcement would lead to complete chaos across the healthcare system.”
ANPA warned that strict implementation without considering the state’s unique challenges could disrupt public healthcare.
The association urged the government to allow pharmacies to continue operations until a more practical and state-specific health policy is established.
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