Mysore/Mysuru: A total of 254 pharmacy graduates were presented with B. Pharm, D. Pharm, M. Pharm and Pharm D degrees during the Graduate Reception of JSS College of Pharmacy, held at Sri Rajendra Auditorium in JSS Medical College premises, here on Monday.

While M. Sahana emerged as the topper in D. Pharm course, Alisha Antony topped in B. Pharm and Wudaru Pranathi Reddy in Pharm D. In the M. Pharm course, Aditi Dash topped in Pharmaceutics, S. Amesha in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, Atyam Sai Madhu Prasanth in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Choudhari Bharti Shesharam in Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, Thummuru Ekshita Sai in Pharmacology, Saladula Hima in Pharmaceutical Analysis, Rutuja Harischandra Yadav in Industrial Pharmacy and Vaishakhi in Pharmacy Practice. 

Meanwhile, the Best Researcher Award 2023-24 was conferred jointly on Dr. B.M. Gurupadaiah, Head, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Dr. Riyaz Ali Usmani, Head, Department of Pharmaceutics. The awards to meritorious students and faculty members were presented by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) Vice-Chancellor Dr. M.K. Ramesh.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ramesh said that the scenario in the healthcare sector in the country had changed over the past decades with advancement in the medical field.

“While there were no proper medical facilities such as the primary health units and medical colleges in the country during independence when Malaria caused fatalities were high,  along with maternal mortality and polio cases, the country was dependent on imported medicines. However, with the advancements over the past decades, the country has been manufacturing vaccines and medicines indigenously not only to support its citizen, but has also been exporting medicines globally,” he said.

Citing the example of COVID-19, Dr. Ramesh said that, pharmacists had played a crucial role in developing vaccine with the country and exporting them to countries across the globe to save the human race.

Stating that pharmaceutical industry had a scope for creativity, he said, there was an opportunity to invent drugs that can cure diabetes. Dr. Ramesh also urged budding pharmacists to be prepared to handle new diseases and viruses in the years to come.

“India, which is currently the 5th biggest economy in the world, is poised to touch 20 million dollars economy by 2047, for which pharmacists will also have to play a vital role. Those getting into the field must serve for the development of the country, ” he added.

JSS Mahavidyapeetha Executive Secretary Dr. C.G. Betsurmath, JSS AHER Registrar Dr. B. Manjunatha, CEO Dr. Sudheendra Bhat, Dean Dr. Vishal Kumar Gupta, JSS College of Pharmacy Principal Dr. T.M. Pramod Kumar, Vice-Principal Dr. G.V. Pujar and others were present.