The KIIT School of Pharmacy, under the aegis of KIMS, celebrated the 63rd National Pharmacy Week (NPW) on November 23, 2024. This year’s NPW, observed from November 17–23, was themed “THINK HEALTH, THINK PHARMACY,” as declared by the Indian Pharmaceutical Association.
The event witnessed active participation from around 200 attendees, including students, faculty, and professionals, who engaged in various competitions such as essay writing, quiz, and elocution. These activities provided a platform to discuss the relevance of the NPW theme and emphasize the vital role of pharmacists in healthcare.
The celebration was graced by prominent dignitaries such as Subodh Kumar Nayak, Ex-Director, Drugs Control Administration, Odisha as chief guest; Dr. Nilamadhab Dash, Ex-Director, Drugs Control Administration, Odisha as chief speaker; Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mahapatra, Director, School of Allied Medical Sciences, KIIT as guest of honour and Prof. (Dr.) Una Lakshmi Narayan, Principal, KIIT School of Pharmacy, and Prof. (Dr.) Arun Panda, Professor in Pharmacology, KIIT School of Pharmacy as speakers.
Prof. Mahapatra delivered the welcome address, highlighting the importance of the pharmacy profession and its contributions to healthcare. Chief Guest Sri Nayak expressed his gratitude to pharmacists for their dedication and encouraged greater outreach efforts to showcase their pivotal role in healthcare delivery.
Dr. Dash, the chief speaker, spoke on the transformative impact of pharmacists on patient health and the immense potential of the pharmaceutical sector. He emphasized the profession’s critical contributions during challenging times and its forward-looking prospects.
Prof. (Dr.) U.L. Narayan and Prof. (Dr.) Arun Panda inspired the young pharmacy students with their insights into the profession’s importance and the indispensable role of pharmacists in society.
The event concluded with the distribution of prizes to the winners of the competitions by the guests. Dr. Biswaranjan Behera, Professor in Pharmacognosy, proposed the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all participants and organizers for making the event a success.