Catching up with the rising needs of the industry, the Government-run Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Research (DIPSAR) is launching two new M Pharm courses in herbal drug technology and pharmaceutical management from the next academic season.

Besides, the premier institute has also sent a proposal for another course in the much-needed pharmaceutical regulatory affairs, focusing on government regulations and the related problems concerned by the industry. The approval is awaited from the All India Council for Technical Education, said Prof. S S Agarwal, principal of DIPSAR.

He said the institute had already got necessary approvals for the two courses and process of admitting students would begin as per schedule. The eligibility for the new courses would be the same as for the other M Pharm courses. The student must have passed the bachelor of pharmacy examination with at least 50 per cent in the aggregate of theory paper of II,III and IV year from the University of Delhi or equivalent there of.

"We are waiting for the approval of AICTE for the course of Regulatory Affairs so that it could also be started from the next season itself", he said. The total number M Pharm courses would be eight including two new approved courses.

It may be noted that DIPSAR is already running six M. Pharma courses in pharmacology, pharmaceuticals, hospital pharmacy, quality assurance, clinical research and quality improvement programme respectively and with these new courses DIPSAR would be able to cater the demands for experts in herbal drug technology and in pharma management.

Prof. S S Agarwal also said that the number of seats for these courses would be ten for each new course, as approved by the Delhi University. Besides the Masters, the institute also offers courses of degree, diploma and doctoral