Dr. Hemchandra P. Tipnis, retired principal of Bombay College of Pharmacy (BCP) and Central Executive Council Member of Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) passed away on May 23, 2016 after a massive cardiac arrest.
Born on July 7, 1933, Dr. Tipnis completed his Masters and Doctorate from University of California School of Pharmacy and University of Nebraska respectively. He pioneered the initial bioavailability studies in human volunteers and his research papers formed the basis for amendments to Drugs & Cosmetics Act, with the ultimate inclusion of Schedule Y in the Act. Dr Tipnis was amongst the first to understand the importance of industry tie-ups in growth of academic institutes and sew-up partnerships between the pharma industry and BCP, a move that propelled BCP into the big league of pharmacy colleges not just in the country but internationally as well.
Dr. Tipnis was active in the professional activities of IPA and was elected president of Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC), the top, annual national pharma congregation, in 2007. He was also the scientific convener of IPCs in 1988, 1989,1990 & 1991. His vision and acumen helped Indian pharma industry get attuned to the global regulatory requirements and opened the doors to Indian ANDA filings with the USFDA. A recipient of many prestigious awards conferred by the pharma fraternity and IPA, Dr. Tipnis in his career guided 35 Doctorate and 100 Masters students; students who today literally are the ‘Who’s Who’ of the pharma profession globally.
Dr. Tipnis leaves behind a seemingly space in the pharma profession and more particularly pharma education sphere which cannot be filled. Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Bombay College of Pharmacy and the fraternity join hands in condoling the sad demise of this doyen of pharma profession.