Bhubaneswar, June 25: Functioning of government-run rural health centres across the state is likely to be affected as more than 2,500 pharmacists have threatened to cease work from July demanding better salaries.

Members of the Odisha Pharmacists’ Service Association (OPSA) had staged a three-day demonstration at PMG Square near the Assembly last week.

The members of the association alleged that despite assurances given by the chief minister and the chief secretary in the past, their grievances had not been addressed by the health and family welfare department.

However, health secretary Pradipta Mohapatra said the department had sent the proposal for approval to the finance department, but the latter returned it on Saturday.

“They had sought some clarifications and we will submit it within seven days. Only if the finance department approves the proposal can we implement it.”

Members of the OPSA, however, alleged that while the proposal for pay parity and other demands raised by the nursing association were approved by the finance department, their demands were not considered.

Association general secretary Sudhansu Sekhar Pati said there was anomaly in the pay scale of pharmacists, who were never given promotion in their entire career. “If you enter the cadre as a pharmacist, you are bound to retire as such,” he said.

Pati demanded that more posts be created and entry-level qualification for pharmacists be enhanced from diploma to degree so that they could get promotions during their career.

Odisha needs more than 12,000 doctors, but the state has only around 5,000. Hence, pharmacists often manage primary health care services.

A leader of the association of pharmacists said the cease work, involving 2,500 pharmacists (both regular and on contract) working under the health and family welfare department and other agencies such as the National Rural Health Mission and the Employees State Insurance hospitals, could affect the health-care delivery process.

President of the association Benudhar Dash alleged that it was decided at a meeting attended by the chief minister and the pay anomaly committee to accord pay parity and address other demands, but officials were sitting on the proposal.

“If the state government fails to meet the demands raised by the pharmacists, we will be forced to go on indefinite mass leave from July 22,” he said.

An association leader said the high-powered committee formed by the state government and the Pharmacy Council of India had recommended to the state government that Bachelor in Pharmacy (BPharm) be considered as the entry-level qualification for pharmacists. But it has not been implemented.