On the occasion of World Pharmacist Day, which is being celebrated today all over the globe, Jalandhar of Punjab possesses the title of Asia's "greatest medicare hub" due to its unparalleled concentration of hospitals, super-specialty facilities, clinics, nursing homes, and pharmacies per capita.
Experts highlight that while larger metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru are referred to as medical tourism hubs, Jalandhar is unique as it boasts a focused network of healthcare centers within a mid-sized city. From cardiac and orthopaedic super-specialty hospitals to IVF clinics, eye care clinics, and state-of-the-art nursing homes, the city provides an enormous range of services so that quality healthcare is available not only for Punjab but also to patients traveling all the way from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and even NRIs overseas.
On World Pharmacist Day, domestic pharmacists and medical organizations pointed out the city's over-reliance on hospital pharmacies and chemist shops in the community. They also emphasized professional issues the industry is up against – from supply chain hiccups, increased cost of medicines, to having more stringent prescription practices in a city that is so overwhelmingly populated with health practitioners.
Being a medicare hub, Jalandhar's status as a healthcare provider makes pharmacists the cornerstone of its healthcare setup. All nursing homes, clinics, or specialist hospitals are complemented by an equally strong pharmacy sector.
"Pharmacists are one of the largest and most available groups of healthcare practitioners, serving a vital role in patient care and the safe use of medicines. Their role is imperative in enhancing health outcomes and increasing access to high-quality healthcare services," stated Dr. Montu Kumar M. Patel, President of the Pharmacy Council of India, in the official World Pharmacists Day 2024 message.
This year's World Pharmacist Day theme is enhancing patient access to drugs and safe dispensing practices. Specialists are of the view that Jalandhar has the potential to be a model city for pharmacy best practices, considering it has high density of healthcare professionals and institutions.
As the city's medical profile only increases, today's event also stands as a reminder that pharmacists, who are usually the first to greet patients, merit recognition on par with physicians and specialists in creating Jalandhar's image as Asia's top healthcare destination.
