Few institutions offering PhD in pharmacy in Kerala is causing a serious shortage of pharmacy teachers in the state. The pharmacy teachers here feel that if the issue is not tackled at the earliest, it could create an acute shortage of qualified professors for the pharmacy education.

As per AICTE norms, the minimum qualification for becoming a professor or assistant professor in pharmacy colleges is a PhD in pharmacy. But hardly two universities in Kerala are currently offering these courses.

This situation the teachers feel could lead to dire situations in the pharmacy education of the State.

All Kerala Pharmacy Teachers Association has recently submitted a proposal to the Kerala Health Minister suggesting ways to sort out this and many other issues facing the state pharmacy colleges.

"We have asked the Minister to introduce the PhD courses in other universities too and we have requested the administration of Universities to consider this issue. If this issue is sorted out it will be of great help for the pharmacy teachers," said president of the AKPTA, Robin Jose.

One other issue which is disturbing the Pharmacy teachers in Kerala is the poor remuneration offered to pharmacy teachers for paper valuation and conducting practical examinations. Lack of consideration shown towards private pharmacy college teachers while selecting for the post of chairman of board of examinations is another grievance.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Jose said that, such problems had been prevalent for some time now and are causing a lot of hardship. "In other states, the money given for evaluating one paper is Rs 10, and in Kerala alone it is Rs 6 per paper. So we are demanding that we should be given an amount on par with the other States. Our pharmacy teachers are putting efforts for the development of the pharmacy education in the State. So there should be no disparity in pay," said Jose.

He said that, the pharmacy teachers are expected to evaluate around 25 papers per day and so the total amount the teacher gets for evaluating the papers is Rs 125. At the same time, as per the state rules, the minimum wage for labourer is fixed at Rs 140 per day. Hence the AKPTA feels that pharmacy teachers are being paid less than an ordinary worker.

Speaking about the issue of giving equal consideration to the self financing college teachers for occupying post of Chairman of the Board of Education etc, Jose said that till now only the government teachers were given priority and so now the AKPTA wanted the government to select people on the basis of seniority and not on the basis of whether they were government pharmacy teachers.

"Some 4 years back there were no self financed pharmacy colleges in Kerala. Now there are nearly 25 self financing colleges and only 2 government colleges. So we want the government to take the seniority factor into consideration while selecting people for the post of chairman of board of examinations etc. Only this way, equal opportunity would be given to the self financing pharmacy colleges teachers too," said Jose.

On the issue of raising the minimum qualification for becoming a registered pharmacist, Jose said that the Association was demanding it for the upgradation for sometime now. He said that, worldwide, a degree in pharmacy was the minimum qualification for becoming a pharmacist and it is only in India that a person holding a diploma n pharmacy is recognized as a registered pharmacist.

The pharmacy education in the state used to have industry orientation but with the emerging concept of community pharmacist , the role of the pharmacist could become more responsible. "A community pharmacist is expected to counsel the patients, provide information about the drug, apart from dispensing the medicines. And to provide these services in an effective manner he should be well versed with the various nuances related to the industry. Hence we want the minimum qualification of a pharmacist to be a graduate in pharmacy," averred Jose.

The Health Minister had a meeting with AKPTA members and assured action to find solution to these issues.