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Patients in Uttarakhand hospitals facing a shortage of doctors may soon find significant relief. The state government is considering authorizing pharmacists to prescribe a limited range of medicines. A proposal regarding this is currently being drafted by the Directorate General of Health Services. Under this plan, eligible pharmacists holding D.Pharma and B.Pharma degrees could be permitted to prescribe specific medicines for common ailments such as coughs, colds, fevers, UTIs, and certain respiratory issues. 

However, models from other states will be studied before implementing this system, and a committee is being formed for this purpose. The government believes this decision could help patients in remote, doctor-scarce areas receive initial medical treatment.

**Relief for hospitals lacking doctors**
While many remote areas in Uttarakhand have hospitals, a shortage of doctors often forces patients to travel elsewhere for treatment. Granting pharmacists the authority to prescribe limited medication could provide local relief to patients suffering from common illnesses—a demand pharmacists have long been making. This issue was also raised recently during a meeting with Health Minister Subodh Uniyal.

**Committee to examine systems in Assam and Himachal**
The Health Minister stated that work is underway on the proposal to authorize pharmacists to prescribe limited medicines, and the Director General of Health Services has been instructed to draft the proposal. Subsequently, a committee will study the systems implemented in states like Assam and Himachal Pradesh. A final decision will be taken based on the committee's report.

**Impact of doctors' strike on Doon Hospital**
Meanwhile, the strike by MBBS interns and PG doctors—demanding a stipend hike—is affecting operations at Doon Hospital. A drop in patient admissions for elective surgeries has led to a decrease in the total number of operations performed. On Wednesday, only two elective surgeries were conducted in the Orthopedics department and one in the Surgery department, whereas on normal days, both departments typically handle around five surgeries each.

However, surgeries in the emergency OT, Cath Lab, Ophthalmology, and Obstetrics & Gynecology departments remained unaffected. According to the hospital administration, patients in need are being admitted and undergoing surgeries, while PG doctors and interns are on duty in the ICU and emergency departments.

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