About Us
The Kerala Government Pharmacists' Association (KGPA) is a non-partisan professional organization for government pharmacists serving in positions ranging from Pharmacist Grade 2 to Assistant Director of Pharmacy Services in various government departments, such as Health Services, Medical Education, and Insurance Medical Services, in the state of Kerala. During the pre-independence period, organizations representing government pharmacists were established and functioned within the princely states of Travancore, Kochi, and Malabar under British colonial rule. These organizations later amalgamated after the formation of Kerala in 1956, giving rise to the Kerala Government Pharmacists' Association, which officially became registered as the second service organization in the state in 1957.
K.G.P.A.'s initial struggles involved combatting the abominable practice of untouchability. Severe poverty exacerbated the hardships of even those in occupations such as laborers, beedi makers, or bricklayers. During this period, Shri G. Vivekananda, an educated individual who pursued pharmaceutical training post his matriculation, enlisted in the military. Following his service, while employed as a pharmacist in governmental service, he faced a transfer from the Kavadiyar Palace Dispensary due to his lower-caste status. K.G.P.A. vehemently protested against this injustice, culminating in a successful demonstration. Subsequently, Mr. G. Vivekananda rose to prominence as a renowned novelist and film scriptwriter in Kerala, penning numerous novels and movie scripts like "Sruthibhangam" and "Kallichellamma."
For pharmacists, promotions from PSK to Assistant Director of Pharmacy Services, reasonable pay scales, holidays including weekly time off, and decent working conditions were achieved as a result of the efforts of KGPA. The KGPA has actively intervened in various other health sector issues, working to make medicine procurement and distribution more scientific, to ensure the availability of medicines for the poor, to maintain the quality of medicines, and to combat corruption in medicine procurement.
KGPA also spearheads efforts to uphold the Code of Conduct, which is the foundational document of the pharmacy profession. KGPA is keen to work in unison with pharmacist associations from other states and collaborate at the All-India level on common issues. The specialty of this organization is its ability to move forward with the support of 98 percent of the government pharmacists in the state.
The important objectives of KGPA are to provide better pharmacy services to the public, to achieve fair rights for pharmacists, and to work towards the common goal of health for all. KGPA is a service organization that prepares an approved program and rules, and operates based on these guidelines.
