The NIPER at S.A.S. Nagar through its performance has justified its creation as a centre of excellence. That is the view of the pharmaceutical intelligentsia within the country and in the western world. There is appreciation of the academic structuring at the NIPER with a focus on multi-disciplinary approach to moulding and grooming the young students to acquire in-depth knowledge in the respective specialities. This is as per the mandate of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998.
These are the days of competitiveness and we need to be well aware of it. The market forces determine as to how good are the products made available. Notwithstanding the claims made, it is the pharmaceutical industry which determines as to how good are the M.S., M.Sc.(Pharmaceutical Chemistry) or M.Pharm. degree holders for the jobs the respective postgraduates are to handle. It need also be understood that the industry lobby is strong enough to influence the government to tailor the statutes which are in the interest of progress of the industry. The possibility of such an eventuality arising should put all our educational institution on high atleast.
At the pharmacy school the standards have perceptibly gone down with the widespread expansion of number of educational institutions. The budding teachers from among the postgraduates from such institutions which do not have the necessary infrastructure and facilities and above all lack quality faculties, will further dilute the standards in coming years.
The Pharmacy Act regulates the profession and practice of pharmacy. The D.Pharm. and Pharm.D. programmes come under the purview of the Pharmacy Council of India, and these are the qualification registrable under the Act for pharmacy practice.
The interested B.Pharm. degree institutions are inspected by the PCI to see if the essential features of Education Regulations for the diploma (D.Pharm.) requirements for minimum standard of education are covered at the respective schools in courses leading to degrees in pharmacy. This enables such graduates to register as pharmacists under the Act. As of today only a small number of degree holders become practising pharmacists.
For a candidate having registrable B.Pharm. degree, the possession of M.Pharm. degree or M.S. degree from Indian NIPERs or from American Pharmacy School is not considered to be advantageous for practice of pharmacy. This is so as these postgraduate programmes as such are not designed for engagements in pharmacy practice. For practice of pharmacy in America it is Pharm.D. and in Britain the M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice) are regulatory requirements for the practice.
The rigorous interdisciplinary training which the NIPER conducts makes the M.S. graduates acquire in-depth training in the chosen specialities and also in the peripheral subjects. A reference to the NIPER publication on the details of the syllabi can bring this out.
The academic programmes offered by the NIPER at S.A.S.Nagar are M.S.(Pharm.) in medicinal chemistry, natural products, traditional medicine, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmacology & toxicology, regulatory toxicology, pharmaceutics, biotechnology, and pharmacoinformatics; M.Pharm. in pharmaceutical technology(formulations), and pharmacy practice; M.Tech (Pharm.) in pharmaceutical technology(bulk drugs), and pharmaceutical technology(biotechnology); and M.B.A.(Pharm.); and Ph.D. in different disciplines.
During the last decade and a half 791 students have graduated for master degrees, including 167 getting M.B.A.(Pharm.). All these postgraduates, but for a solitary exception of one holding prior M.Sc. degree qualifying for M.Tech.(Pharm.) (bulk drugs), possessed B.Pharm. or M.Pharm. from different institutions before joining the NIPER.
The acceptance of master degrees from the NIPER for teaching at our pharmacy schools will not only tone up the quality of pharmaceutical education in our country but indirectly will also upgrade the pharmacy profession at large. All it needs is the modification of the relevant clause of the PCI Education Regulations. The authorities may look into it.
It is in the national interest that the top quality pharmaceutical manpower which is being trained at the NIPER is effectively utilized at our pharmacy schools.