The role of a pharmacist is undergoing major changes world over in the wake of notable progress made by the pharmaceutical science and education today. Pharmaceutical science is considered to be an independent branch of science dealing with all aspects of drugs and pharmaceuticals. A pharmacist is a vital link in the physician-patient chain and he is expected to play a key role in the dissemination of pharmaceutical knowledge. The practice of pharmacy includes the custody, preparation and distribution of pharmaceutical products besides providing advice on health and nutrition related issues. A pharmacist today needs to be fully equipped with all these capabilities. In India, although pharmaceutical industry has advanced over the last 25 years, the pharmacist here continues to be a backroom boy in a pharmaceutical factory or a salesman in a retail pharmacy. This image has to change and it can be done only by raising the educational standards of pharmacists. There has been no serious attempt to modify the curricula of pharmacy education in India for several years. Whereas, manufacturing standards, quality control practices, research activities and clinical practices in this industry have undergone critical changes during these years. A fresh graduate coming out of a pharmacy college in India is largely oblivious of these ground realities. With growing internationalization of Indian pharmaceutical industry, the standards of pharmacy education need to be world class. Pharmacy Council of India has been pressing for this change for years and the government has finally approved starting of much sought after six year Pharm D course in India.
The PCI has approved 22 colleges to start Pharm D course from this academic year. The Council has already notified the procedures and fees structure for pharmacy institutions to apply for accreditation to commence the course. The procedures, published in the website of the PCI along with the online application form, insists that the institutions or individuals who apply to start Pharm D course should provide 300-bed hospital facility. The institutions should provide necessary other infrastructural facilities as prescribed by the PCI under Appendix - B of Pharm D regulations. Initially, the permission to start the Pharm D programme will be issued for a period of one year and will be renewed on yearly basis subject to verification of facilities and achievements of annual targets. The institutions have to apply for renewal six months prior to the expiry of the initial permission. PCI has designated a regular panel of inspectors for periodic inspection of pharmacy colleges having Pharm D course throughout the country. This will be a critical responsibility on PCI considering the fact that several pharmacy colleges offering B Pharm degree do not have basic lab facilities and qualified faculty. Any lapse in monitoring and periodic inspection of these Pharm D institutions can tempt their managements to compromise on facilities and thereby devalue this advanced course.