The recent announcement made by the Pharmacy Council of India that it does not recognize MS programme in Industrial Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Quality Control conducted by institutions like NIPERs has run into a serious controversy. MS course is not approved by the PCI either for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act to practice the profession or for any other purpose like teaching in approved pharmacy institutions. Hundreds of students doing the MS programme in NIPERs are now upset over the announcement as non recognition of the course by PCI can directly impact the future of these students. There are half a dozen NIPERs located in different parts of the country and all of them are having this PG programme. The PCI is objecting to the course as it feels that NIPERs have no mandatory infrastructure and adequate faculty to conduct the programme. PCI says that why the students who aspire to become pharmacy teachers join MS programme conducted by these institutes when M. Pharm seats are easily available in prestigious pharmacy colleges in the country. And it is a fact that many students do not know that the MS programmes conducted by these institutes are not recognized by the PCI.
NIPERs are institutions set up by the Department of Pharmaceuticals and students are aware of the fact. DoP has plans to have more NIPERs across the country in future. Probably the students never expected a conflict of interest would arise between these two government bodies over the recognition when they joined for this course. Now, the students have threatened to move court over the issue if there is no settlement in their favour. The directors of the NIPERs have already met and are trying to figure out what to do. They along with the officials of DoP are planning to approach AICTE as they feel that PCI has nothing to do with the postgraduate pharmacy education in the country. These officials argue that PCI mandate is to only regulate under graduate and graduate courses in pharmacy. Such a position by DoP and NIPER directors is not desirable as that would only lead to further friction amongst the two government establishments. Everyone has to accept that PCI is the apex body governing the pharmacy education and practice in the country and Dr. Suresh is a well respected pharmacy professional and academician for several years of standing. The DoP cannot therefore ignore the objections raised by PCI and it has to address the issue in terms of poor faculty and infrastructure in NIPERs. At the same time, PCI should not take a rigid position with regard to the recognition of MS programme at least in the case of students who have already spent their time and money and completed the course.