The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) has demanded to amend the Drugs & Cosmetics Act and Rules 1945 to make only the pharmacy graduates eligible to become expert staffs in the pharma manufacturing units. In the resolutions passed during the just concluded IPA Convention, the IPA also urged the government to expedite action to amend the Rules in such way that all regulatory positions in the country must be an exclusive area for experienced and qualified pharmacists.

A total of four resolutions were passed in the IPA Convention 2010 that held in Chennai from March 12 to 14.

B Sethuraman, president of Tamil Nadu Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (TN PMA), moved the resolution demanding amendment for removal of graduates of chemistry, microbiology and medicine from the D&C Rules, and to make it only for the B Pharm graduates to apply for the positions of analytical chemists, manufacturing chemists and quality control chemists in the manufacturing units.

The resolution argued that there are, other than pharmacy, so many science and medical graduates occupying the post of drug inspectors, drug controllers, licensing authorities and controlling authorities. In many states in the country, Civil Services officials are controlling the department. He wanted all the regulatory positions should be made mandatory for pharmacy graduates only as like what exists in the institutional level. All those attended the seminar, including pharmacy students from various colleges across the country, welcomed the move in this regard.

In the discussions held on the resolution, the TN PMA president reminded the conference that there was a representation to the union government in this regard by the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress in 1974. He said, for the sake of the increasing number of pharmacy graduates in the country, wherever there is BSc or MBBS mentioned in the drugs and cosmetics rules for the post of expert staffs for regulatory and manufacturing units, it should be removed through an amendment.

Dr. K Chinnasamy, president of Tamil Nadu Pharmacy Council, said that when the resolution was first passed by the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress in 1974, the then Union government had taken a favourable stand, but many states in the country, except Tamil Nadu and Kerala, had opposed it.

IPA and PCI president, Dr. B Suresh while moderating the discussion said he will bring this into the notice of the government.

Another resolution moved by All India Drug Control Officers Association, Tami Nadu branch secretary M Dilip Kumar, and later passed by all the members in the convention, said since there are so many pharmacy colleges in Tami Nadu, the IPA should demand the central government to establish a University for Pharmacy in Tamil Nadu. In the discussion, Dilip wanted the IPA to take steps to include members of PCI into Medical Council of India as there is always representation of MCI into the PCI. There should be law for enactment of vice versa. In his reply, Dr Suresh said this would also be included along with the representation to the government.

Dr. M N Saraf, Principal of Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai while moving a resolution said all the colleges comes under section 2 F and 12 B of UGC Act should get financial assistance being allotted under the plan period for developing infrastructure facilities, construction of buildings and for research work.

Students of pharmacy from various colleges have also raised issues relating to pharmacy education and their job opportunities.