Due to technological innovations and communication revolutions, sea changes are taking place in every sphere of human activity. The field of Pharmaceutical Sciences is not an exception to these changes. Due to the opening up of Indian economy and India being a signatory to GATT agreement, Indian pharmaceutical industry is going global. In order to match the global standards, the products it is offering should be of highest quality. In this context, Indian pharmacy education requires toning up and the course should be reassessed in light of recent developments. In order to be effective pharmacy education should be periodically reassessed and made relevant to the changing needs.
Curriculum content
Periodically the course curriculum of B.Pharm & M.Pharm should be reviewed to identify the outdated topics and to infuse new blood into the content. This can be done by establishing an autonomous body called 'Curriculum Restructuring Committee'. It should consist of experienced persons from all walks of Pharmacy Profession like Teaching, Industry and Research.
The steps taken by the AICTE in this direction by introducing new model syllabus for B.Pharm which is yet to be implemented augers well for the profession of pharmacy. But it may take many more years to reach the implementation stage. Since most of the students after the completion of B.Pharm opt to work for pharmaceutical industry, it is necessary that they should possess industrial orientation, which is lacking in the present Indian B.Pharm curriculum.
The glaring drawbacks of a typical B.Pharm graduates coming out from Indian universities are:
" They possess sound knowledge in theoretical concepts but are lacking in practical skills
" Most of the procedures studied by the students during their professional degree are not at all being practiced by pharmaceutical industries.
" The students are not aware of the latest manufacturing procedures, regulatory affairs and good manufacturing practices (GMP) rules & regulations.
" The students are not exposed to new upcoming branches of pharmacy like Entrepreneurship development, Clinical pharmacology, Pro-drug delivery, Pharmacogenomics, Chronopharmacokinetics etc. at B.Pharm level.
Integrated teaching should be practiced. Integration of basic pharmaceutical sciences and laboratory procedures should be utilized for problem solving. Use of modules and case studies in at least a few areas should be initiated.
The aims of pharmacy education are to develop a core of pharmacy personnel for efficient up keep of professional health care in the country who are efficient in.
" Manufacturing and industrial pharmacy (production)
" FDA jobs
" Pharmaceutical marketing
" Drug research and development
Hence it is necessary that the B.Pharm course should contain subjects of contemporary interest to suit the ever-changing requirements of the health segment. 'Mediocre teacher tells, good teacher explains, superior teacher illustrates and exceptional teacher inspires'. As the adage goes, it is not known how many teachers are there in pharmacy profession who can match this paradigm. Only restructuring of syllabus is not sufficient but the faculty should have zeal to imbibe a spirit of learning in the students.
The pharmacy faculty should incorporate the following techniques of teaching in their regular class work:
" Lectures
" Group discussions
" Seminars
" Tutorials
" Panel discussions
" Programmed learning
" Project works
" Role play
" Problem based learning
" Use of audio visual aids
For a pharmacy faculty to be an effective teacher, he should be familiar with the process of curriculum design and principles of framing the learning objectives. A teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself. The teacher who has come to the end of his subject, who has no living traffic with his own knowledge but nearly repeats his lessons to his students can only load their minds. He cannot inspire them.
Some of the important subjects which should be incorporated in the curriculum to inspire interest in the students of B.Pharm are:
" Principles and practice of pharmaceutical management
" Structure and history of pharmaceutical industry
" Regulatory affairs and GMP of pharmaceutical industry
" Entrepreneurship development
" Current concepts in drug technology
" Principles of pharmaceutical production management
" Packaging and store management of drugs and pharmaceuticals
Some more restructuring possibilities are:
" Introducing specialization at B.Pharm level (electives)
" Practical industrial training for six months (compulsory)
Hence restructuring the syllabus on the above guidelines it is possible to produce a pharmacist of 21st century who can cater to the latest health care system of our country.
(The author is principal, Veerayatan Institute of Pharmacy, Jakhania, Bhuj-Mandvi Road, Tal. Mandvi, Dist. Kutch 370 460, Gujarat.)