SHILLONG: In a major boost to Meghalaya’s healthcare sector, Health and Family Welfare Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Tuesday announced that the State Cabinet has approved long-awaited Service Rules for pharmacists—marking a significant step toward addressing years of career stagnation and unlocking fresh recruitment opportunities.
Speaking after a meeting with representatives of the All Meghalaya Pharmacists Association, Shylla acknowledged that the absence of formal Service Rules had severely hindered professional growth within the department. Many pharmacists, he noted, had remained stuck in the same positions for decades without promotions or enhanced benefits.
“With the new rules in place, a structured promotion mechanism will finally be introduced,” the Minister said, expressing confidence that upward movement of senior pharmacists into higher sanctioned posts will create vacancies at the entry level, opening doors for aspiring candidates across the state.
Responding to demands for increased staffing in line with Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), Shylla said the government is aware of the need to deploy at least two to three pharmacists at Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs), along with one at each Sub-Centre. While full adherence to IPHS norms could generate up to 600 new posts, the Minister cautioned that financial constraints remain a significant challenge.
He stressed that the government must strike a balance between expanding human resources and meeting other critical healthcare priorities, including the construction of staff quarters for doctors and strengthening rural health infrastructure.
On the pending Meghalaya State Pharmacy Council elections, Shylla informed that draft rules have already been prepared and are currently under review by the Law Department. Once cleared, the proposal will be placed before the Cabinet to pave the way for a fresh and democratic election process.
Meanwhile, the All Meghalaya Pharmacists Association welcomed the Cabinet’s decision but voiced concerns over the prolonged absence of permanent recruitment. Association leader Emosjohn Syiemlieh pointed out that no official advertisement for regular pharmacist posts has been issued in nearly 26 years, with recent hiring limited to contractual positions lacking job security.
The Association also questioned the government’s financial constraints in implementing IPHS norms, arguing that full-scale adoption would significantly reduce unemployment among trained pharmacists. Additionally, concerns were raised over the Meghalaya Skill Development Society’s short-term training programmes for Pharmacist Assistants, with fears that trained youths may not be absorbed into the system due to limited funding.
Despite these apprehensions, Shylla urged job-seeking youth to remain patient, assuring that the newly approved Service Rules lay the groundwork for a more structured and sustainable recruitment process in the future.
