The Union Health Ministry has recently released the revised draft National Pharmacy Commission Bill which proposes to set up the National Pharmacy Commission (NPC) by repealing the archaic Pharmacy Act 1948 and dissolving the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). Though the ministry had released the draft Bill in November, 2023 seeking public consultation, it was not tabled in Parliament for enactment. That the ministry means business to stem the rot in the pharmacy education in the country is evident from the fact it has introduced a National Exit Test (NET) for registration as a pharmacist in the revised draft Bill. Besides, the new Bill has brought significant changes from the previous draft Bill released in 2023, as it proposes an accreditation committee for approval of new pharmacy institutions and courses, and inclusion of pharmacy segment in the Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy into its provisions. The draft also proposes introduction of Joint Pharmacy Councils, similar to State Pharmacy Councils, under which two or more States or Union Territory governments can enter into an agreement to constitute a Joint Pharmacy Council with representation of the participating State. In the place of three boards proposed earlier, the revised Bill proposes four boards - the Pharmacy Education Board for Modern system of medicine, the Pharmacy Education Board for Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy, the Pharmacy Assessment and Rating Board, and the Pharmacy Ethics and Registration Board. There can be no two opinions, the Bill is aimed to promote and regulate pharmacy education system that improves access to quality and affordable pharmacy or pharmaceutical education. It is also aimed to ensure availability of adequate and high quality pharmacy professionals across the country and also to encourage pharmacy professionals of modern system of medicine, Indian system of medicine and Homoeopathy to adopt latest contemporary pharmaceutical and life sciences research in their work and to contribute to research and technology.
Of course, the revised Bill marks a transformative reform in pharmacy education regulation by introducing a modern, transparent, and accountable governance framework. The formation of NPC on the lines of the National Medical Commission which replaced the controversial Medical Council of India (MCI) is definitely the need of the hour for pharmacy education and regulation in the country. Repealing the Pharmacy Act and dissolving the PCI are steps in right direction as the functioning of the PCI was not all that hunky dory. The PCI was mired in various controversies including allegations of bribery in several cases. That the present system needed an overhaul is evident from the fact that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had some time back conducted search operations at the premises of none other than the president of PCI itself Dr Montu Kumar Patel in connection with various allegations including accepting bribes from pharmacy institutions for approval. The extent of corruption in PCI was clear from the fact that the Council was criticised by the Supreme Court of India for ‘lack of application of mind and exercise of powers in an arbitrary manner’, in various matters which ended up in litigations between the pharmacy institutes and the PCI. Certainly, the new Bill is a ray of hope. Its emphasis on competency-based education, a National Exit Test, digital registration, transparent assessment of pharmacy institutions, and stronger ethical standards are progressive measures that will go a long way in enhancing the quality and global competitiveness of pharmacy education and profession in the country. |