CPL announces 2021 scholarship programme to commemorate anniversary

By LULU MARK
OVER the next three years, 33 pharmacy students from the University of Papua New Guinea’s (UPNG) school of medicine and health science (SMHS) will be sponsored for the duration of their studies, thanks to City Pharmacy Ltd (CPL).
CPL managing director Mahesh Patel announced the CPL Scholarship programme 2021 for pharmacy students yesterday.
Patel said the terms and conditions of the scholarship, targeted at science foundation students, would be finalised soon for students to apply.
He said 2020 marked CPL’s 33rd years in Papua New Guinea and apart from all the promotions and discounts, the scholarship programme would add more value to the anniversary celebrations.
Patel said being a passionate qualified pharmacist himself,he had started the CPL Group as a pharmacy in 1987.
He said there was a need for more pharmacists in the health and retail sectors and the scholarship was aimed at helping address that shortage.
“That’s why we recruit pharmacists from overseas,” he said.
“We got 32 retail outlets and employ 70 qualified pharmacists.”
Patel said more pharmacists were needed because the profession was providing a service that was needed every day.
“We need multiple shifts and multiple managers and as we expand to more towns, the need will be bigger.”
Patel said in trying to encourage more students he found out that they were unable to graduate due to financial constraints.