The ministry of health and family welfare has decided to immediately take up the proposed amendments to the Pharmacy Act 1948 suggested by the Pharmacy Council of India for further scrutiny to enact the legislation, it is learnt.

The ministry’s move is in the wake of the report in Pharmabiz last week titled ‘Health ministry’s lethargy delays amendments to Pharmacy Act.’

Dr. B Suresh, president, Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) informed Pharmabiz that a top level official with the ministry of health and family welfare contacted him on the issue and assured that the amendments would be considered soon for further proceedings. Currently, the ministry is busy with revamping the functioning of the Medical Council of India, dental and paramedical councils, which was one of the main reasons in delaying the scrutiny of PCI proposals. The ministry is also of the view that thorough scrutiny is necessary in revamping the pharmacy education and practices in India. The official has informed to take up the matter at the earliest, informed Dr. Suresh.

As we reported earlier, the 62-member general council, law committee and executive committee of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) had approved the draft amendments during February, this year. Though the proposals were forwarded to the health ministry for further processing, the ministry did not take up the matter. As per the procedure, the draft needs vetting from the health ministry, law ministry and the HRD ministry, before the cabinet approval and subsequent introduction in the Parliament. As per the current pace of progress, it would take minimum one to one and a half-year to enact the proposals as legislation.

The amendments are aimed to make the community pharmacist more responsible and to comprehensively revamp the pharmacy practices and education in the country.