Telangana AYUSH pharmacists protest State Government’s move to replace them with Allopathy Pharmacists

The AYUSH pharmacists in Telangana State, at one time called as compounders, are protesting against State government’s Government Order (GO Ms No 65) dated March 28, 2025, which proposes to fill posts of AYUSH pharmacists in government hospitals with qualification of D Pharmacy, B Pharmacy and Pharma D, which are all Allopathy disciplines

Hyderabad: Can a pharmacist trained in Allopathy become an AYUSH (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) pharmacist? It could sound quite hard to believe, but this is what AYUSH pharmacists in Telangana State are fighting against, which is a recent decision by the State government to allow Allopathy pharmacists to work as AYUSH pharmacists.

The AYUSH pharmacists in Telangana State, at one time called as compounders, are protesting against State government’s Government Order (GO Ms No 65) dated March 28, 2025, which proposes to fill posts of AYUSH pharmacists in government hospitals with qualification of D Pharmacy, B Pharmacy and Pharma D, which are all Allopathy disciplines.

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The Government Order says that the selected Allopathy pharmacists will be appointed after they fulfill a six-month Certificate Course on AYUSH.

“How can an Allopathy pharmacist become an AYUSH pharmacist in 6 months? What about the 25 years of experience that we have gained by working as AYUSH pharmacists in Government hospitals? Does that mean nothing? What about our families? By releasing this Government Order, overnight, we have literally become jobless. We are only urging the State government to treat us humanely,” says M Shankar, Secretary, AYUSH Pharmacist (Compounder) Welfare Association.

There are 62 AYUSH pharmacists who have been working on a contract basis since 2005 and another 275 AYUSH pharmacists working under NRHM since 2008, in Government Hospitals across Telangana State.

“When we were taken as AYUSH compounders, our qualification eligibility was just intermediate. Later, in 2017, our nomenclature was changed from compounder to Pharmacist and qualification was changed to 2-year diploma in AYUSH pharmacy. However, such a course is yet to be established in Telangana State. We have been fighting for the establishment of such a course for the past several years. Now, in 2025, the State government says Allopathy pharmacists should be recruited in place of AYUSH pharmacists,” the AYUSH Pharmacists Association members said.

All the 337 AYUSH pharmacists, who have been working on a contract basis for 18 years to 25 years have families to feed. “Almost all of our members are highly qualified graduates and PGs. Out of the 337, nearly 280 AYUSH pharmacists are women employees. The State government should display humanity and save our families,” the AYUSH pharmacists urged.