Trained manpower is the core and inevitable part of every profession. Ironically, in India, pharmacy institutions came into existence much before the enactment of Pharmacy Act, 1948. These institutions focussed on developing trained manpower. The origin of pharmacy institutions dates back to 1899, with the first institution being set up in Madras. Between 1899 and 1947, pharmacy institutions were in place in West Bengal, Banaras, Waltair, Bombay, Punjab and Ahmedabad. From a handful of pharmacy institutions about 50 years back, there has been a manifold increase in the number of diploma and degree pharmacy institutions in the country.
Available records indicate that quantitative availability of pharmacists to cater to healthcare is now quite promising with about 5.6 pharmacists (against average of 3.4 in the world) per 10,000 people and approximately one pharmacist per physician. Various initiatives were taken by PCI in last four years include:
■ Laying down the vision and mission with an intention to achieve excellence
■ Reforms in pharmacy education to meet the requirement of various sectors of pharmacy practice like community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, industry, teaching, regulatory etc
■ Upgradation and strengthening of pharmacy institutions, where future pharmacist manpower is trained
■ Quality and competence of pharmacists
■ Career progression of pharmacists
■ Creation of new job opportunities for pharmacists
■ Availability of pharmacists throughout the country
■ Strengthening of regulatory mechanism by amending the pharmacy act
■ Active participation and co-ordination of all the stakeholders for effective functioning
Under education reforms, we realised that in order to meet the specific demands of different sectors of pharmacy profession, we need specialised manpower. For example, if we talk of hospital and clinical pharmacy, the time has now come, when pharmacist should shift his/her role from mere dispensing of medicines to patient care. India being a highly populated developing country is facing new challenges in terms of diseases, limited financial resources, rising cost of health care, rational use of medicines etc. Keeping these challenges in mind, the PCI has proposed to introduce PharmD. programme under the Pharmacy Act without any prejudice to already existing B.Pharm course. We have drafted regulations and syllabus for the same laying emphasis on:
■ Pharmaceutical care, its concept and processes
■ Good pharmaceutical practices
■ Drug information management
■ Pharmacoeonomic analysis, clinical toxicology, pharmacotherapeutics etc
■ Onsite practical training in wards under preceptor is the major highlight of PharmD. course. The training will include pharmacists' participation in monitoring prescription in outpatient departments, running drug information centres, contribution in drugs and therapeutics committees etc
PCI is quite hopeful that PharmD. programme will add new dimension to pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical care. The pharmacist will be able to support patient in use of medicine besides taking part in clinical decision-making. Hence, PharmD. programme will be a first step to achieve PCI's vision of promoting excellence within pharmacy profession and ensure that the pharmacists are recognised as the trusted experts in medicines.
Industry: The industrial sector is one of the most crucial indicators of the standards of education in the country. Gone are the days, when pharmacy graduates worked on machines. Industry now needs manpower trained on global regulatory compliance like GATT, IPR, TRIPS, R&D, new drug application submissions, global standards for exports, new drug delivery systems, innovative packaging methods etc. Hence, PCI under the guidance of Health Ministry is working on to set up National School Of Pharmacy jointly by consortium of industry. The objectives of this establishment are:
■ To produce high quality manpower in areas of direct and immediate relevance to industry (manufacturing, analysis, R&D, marketing etc)
■ To take up industry/user organisation oriented activities such as sponsored /contract research and consultancy towards revenue generation
■ To provide continuing education support to pharmacy institutions and pharmaceutical industry
Community pharmacy: Presently the minimum qualification for registration is D.Pharm course. The duration of D.Pharm course is 2 years and practical training for 500 hours. Whereas, in almost all the countries it is of more than 5 years and students are given onsite training for approximately 1 year under the supervision of registered pharmacist. In order to equip our pharmacists to provide good pharmaceutical care, the PCI has been pursuing the Govt. to upgrade minimum registrable qualification from diploma to degree in pharmacy. However I would like to assure our present diploma holders that already registered pharmacists will continue to practice the profession under the Pharmacy Act and be able to upgrade their qualification to degree by attending "Bridge Course" designed by the PCI.
Another important area which needs immediate attention is upgradation and strengthening of pharmacy institutions, where future pharmacist manpower is being trained. We realised that some institutions though have fulfilled the minimum prescribed norms for approval under the Pharmacy Act, still need updation in terms of infrastructure like laboratories, equipments, library, books, journals, computers etc and teaching staff particularly in North Eastern states of our country.
Since the institutions play a pivotal role in creating manpower for the profession, the PCI has done a humble start by giving grant to one institution per state per annum for the conduct of CEP for pharmacy teachers. It also has approached the Health Ministry for 100 crore grant from Planning Commission under 11th plan. It is learnt that the said proposal of the PCI has been accepted and further modalities are being worked out.
When we speak of quality and competence of pharmacist, it cannot be achieved without continuing education. We realised that like other countries continuing education is not mandatory under our law to keep the registration licence live, i.e., continuing education is not at all linked to registration and practicing status. At this stage we thought of introducing the concept of "continuing education" as a skill building exercise to put the registered pharmacist in a learning mode. Yes, to make it mandatory, it requires an amendment to Pharmacy Act which is already in pipeline, but the council has already made a start in April 2004 by requesting all state pharmacy councils to ensure that a candidate attends minimum 2 reference courses in a span of 5 years and to revalidate registration certificate in every 5 years. We have also given grant to each state pharmacy council for the conduct of 12 CEPs per annum. In this way council is conducting 12 programmes per annum per state in the country.
Pharmacists' welfare is of key importance. PCI is working for career progression and creation of new job opportunities for pharmacists. We have:
■ Approached the Sixth Pay Commission for better remuneration, cadres and promotional avenues for pharmacists
■ Taken up the matter with MCI for setting up Central Hospital Pharmacy headed by a pharmacist at teaching medical hospitals as a mandatory condition for approval by MCI. The scheme has been submitted to MCI. This will definitely create new job opportunities for pharmacists
■ The "Pharm.D." programme will also enable the pharmacist to seek remuneration through patient counselling. For this PCI has already proposed to frame "pharmacy practice" Regulations in the Pharmacy Act.
■ National School of Pharmacy may also help the students to get incentive/stipend for contract research.
■ Approached the Ministry to offer incentives for rural posting.
■ Pursuing the UPSC to include Pharmacy as a subject for civil services examination.
Education is an investment for future. For effective regulation of Pharmacy education, the PCI has already proposed amendments in the Pharmacy Act, which are under active consideration of the Govt. Some of the important amendments which the Council would like to share are -
■ That pharmacy education at all levels is regulated solely by the PCI thus overcoming dichotomy of our present pharmacy education in the country.
■ Introduction of provisions for better regulation of pharmacy institutions to ensure the compliance of prescribed standards and quality education to student Pharmacists.
■ Introduction of Pharmacy Practice Regulations like other practicing professions.
■ Introduction of stringent registration/renewal procedures to ensure that renewal is not automatic and Pharmacist updates his knowledge bank regularly by undergoing CEP being mandatory for registration/ renewal.
■ Introduction of stringent penal provisions for defaulters.
Introduction of Professional Conduct Regulations prescribing standards of professional conduct and etiquette and Code of Ethics for Registered Pharmacists.
Other important areas, where the PCI is focusing are -
■ regular interaction with all the stakeholders. We are having regular interactions with our Inspectors, Institutions, various Associations etc. This helps us to understand the needs of profession and draw a strategy accordingly.
■ Appointment of inspectors for effective implementation of section 42 of the Pharmacy Act. We have not only impressed upon the State Govts. but also taken up the matter with the Central Govt. in this regard.
■ To ensure uniformity all over India with regard to admission dates, sessional/ final exams. etc., Council has framed a Academic Calendar to be followed by all Institutions & Examining Authorities.
At the end, I would like to say that the only permanent thing in this world is "Change". The ever changing world calls for dynamic and constructive changes in the Education System. Antediluvian things do not survive in today's scenario. So, it's time we work hard and strive together to uplift the standards of pharmacy profession. Our perseverance, joint efforts and dedication can push the standards of pharmacy education towards perfection and patient care.
(The author is principal, J.S.S. College of Pharmacy, Ootacamund. He also serves as president of Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi)