PCI is moving towards Digital India Era

• Everything under Pharma education will be made available online from next year

• Pharmacy Council of India getting ready for taking Pharma education to next level

• Major revamping of syllabus according to industry’s latest needs

• PCI to work for welfare of pharmacists - not mere a regulator, insists self-governance

• Role of Pharmacists to be strengthened: Refresher Course & many steps planned.

Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) getting ready for taking Pharma education & practice of Pharmacy to next level. PCI will now onwards focus on Regulation of Profession and Practice of Pharmacists as well as welfare measures for pharmacists. PCI has undertaken lots of steps for major revamping of syllabus according to industry’s latest requirements. Moving into Digital age, everything under pharma education will be made available online. This was announced by Prof. (Dr.) B. Suresh President of PCI.

Pharmacy is the art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines. It is a health profession that links health sciences with chemical sciences and aims to ensure the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs.

Dr B. Suresh addressed series of meetings with principals and directors of pharmacy colleges and representatives from Chemists and Druggist associations of Gujarat at Gujarat Technological University (GTU) at Chandkheda campus. He presented blue print for development of pharma education and pharmacy profession and discussed problems and challenges. He promised that PCI will work for improving skills of pharmacists - not mere a regulator and will insist for self-governance. We are there for you to solve your problems. Although inspections and approvals will remain, we will ensure that no institute will suffer due to regulatory actions. PCI is committed to the cause of Pharmacists and pharmacy profession. We are uploading and verifying data and will use technology interface more and more. From next year, everything under pharma education will be made available online. Detail of faculty members will work like a passport. Whenever any professor changes institute specific number will help to identify the faculty member. Some details will be variable and can be changed after such migration. Admission process for students will be made totally online.

He said that PCI has envisaged the need to set up National Schools of Pharmacy jointly by PCI and the Pharma Industry as a Centre of excellence which will produce high quality pharmacist workforce to suit the requirements of the industry. A committee of experts has been constituted to frame an action plan for making the proposed National School of Pharmacy a reality. To meet the growing requirements of the practical knowledge side and to overcome the problems being faced by Indian pharmacy graduates in practicing the pharmacy profession in foreign countries, the PCI has approached the Health Ministry for approval to introduce Pharm.D programme as registrable qualification. In this program greater emphasis will be laid on clinical pharmacy practice, practice management, drug information and professional communication etc. which are an integral part of any community health care network.

Pharmacy is the art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines. It is a health profession that links health sciences with chemical sciences and aims to ensure the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs. The Course teaches about the medicines and their effect on human body, with details of the chemical and organic properties of all the elements used. Pharmacy education is regulated by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), a statutory body governed by the provision of the Pharmacy Act 1948 passed by the Government of India. Even though colleges of pharmacy are regulated by PCI but syllabus is varied as per universities requirements. There is need of uniform syllabus all over India and we are working in the direction. We are also trying hard to introduce latest subjects like 3D printing and Nanotechnology, Dr. B. Suresh said.

PCI has also initiated number of measures for upgradation of knowledge bank & skills of pharmacists by way of conducting refresher courses in collaboration with State Pharmacy Councils, sourcing of books from Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association, London and free of cost distribution to pharmacy institutions and State Councils for dissemination of scientific and professional knowledge. In most developed countries such as the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand, pharmacists do practice as clinical pharmacists in the hospital settings. Pharm D is a hospital oriented course with a dedicated pool of trained faculty in this particular area. The syllabus was designed to remain updated with global standards. Moreover the course and the qualified candidates are accepted by both the hospital management and the medical professionals who acknowledged their expertise in patient care, monitoring drug dose regime and Pharmacovigilance, among others, he said.

Prof. (Dr) Navin Sheth, Vice Chancellor of GTU said in the meeting that honourable Prime Minister of India has started three major programmes: (1) greater emphasis on prescribing Generic Medicines & Opening of Janaushadhi Kendras, (2) Mediclaim-like service for poor and (3) Capping price of Medical Devices. These steps have made healthcare more affordable. Due to this, roles and responsibilities of pharmacists and staff of pharma industry will be increased in near future. Pharmacy colleges will have to provide manpower according to changing needs of the industries. Shri Montukumar Patel, President of Gujarat State Pharmacy Council and Shri Gilber Macwan, Registrar, Dr. C.N. Patel, BoG Member of GTU and Dean of Pharmacy also expressed their opinions. .