The controversial MS programme in Industrial Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Quality Control, being conducted by premier institutions including NIPERs in the country, may soon get recognition from the AICTE as the department of pharmaceuticals (DoP) has taken up the issue and has already started the process in this regard.

According to sources, the DoP had already held high level meetings to discuss the scenario arising out of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)'s decision not to recognize the MS programmes being conducted by premier institutions including NIPERs on the ground that there is no mandatory infrastructure in these institutions to conduct the MS programmes.

The directors of NIPERs were also involved in the discussions. After detailed discussion, it was decided to approach the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for recognition of the MS programme. Senior officials said that the DoP chose to approach the AICTE because the PCI has nothing to do with the post-graduate pharma education in the country and its mandate is only to regulate under-graduate and graduate education in pharmacy.

The entire controversy over the MS programme began when the PCI recently announced that these MS programmes are not approved by the PCI either for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act to practice the profession or any other purpose like teaching in approved pharmacy institutions. The PCI's announcement had put paid to the hopes of thousands of students who were hopeful of pursuing teaching profession in pharmacy.

Meanwhile, NIPER (Hyderabad) director Dr Ahmed Kamal has vehemently denied PCI chairman Dr B Suresh's allegation that there is no mandatory infrastructure and faculty in these institutions to conduct the MS programmes. "Nothing can be farther from truth and this kind of statements can only help demoralise the students," he said and added that there are 12 learned faculty members in Hyderabad NIPER for MS programme.

About syllabus for MS programme, Dr Kamal said that these institutes are following the American style in this regard and the course is far superior than M Pharm course. The exposure is so wide that those who pass out will get placements in various disciplines, he said.