The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), with the support of the pharmacist community in the country, has suggested the Government to set up a string of 'National Schools of Pharmacy' under the Ministry of Health to improve the standards of pharmacy education in the country at par with international standards.

The suggestion is to start at least a dozen National Schools of Pharmacy in various parts of the country, Dr B. Suresh, president of Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) disclosed to Pharmabiz.

Conceptualised in the lines of 'Centres of Excellence' institutions in other fields, the National Schools of Pharmacy will have deemed university status and autonomy and will act as role models in pharmacy education and research. These institutions will develop model curriculum and research methodologies of international standards with industry support and will have programmes on transnational research and student exchanges. These institutions will act as role models for other institutions to emulate and develop standards of pharmacy education.

The PCI has suggested two working models to set up these institutions. One is to upgrade existing pharmacy colleges having excellent infrastructure to the status of National Schools of Pharmacy with necessary additional investments and deemed university status. Another proposal is to rope in industry associations or individual companies as investment partner and to set up National Schools of Pharmacy. The industry can be allowed to develop the right curricula suitable to their needs and can conduct result-oriented research programmes.

All the National Schools of Pharmacies will be networked and each will have specializations in various fields according to their strengths. PCI will act as the monitoring and regulating agency of National Schools of Pharmacies.

He said PCI has also recommended the Government to allocate Rs 100 crore for a period of next five years as part of the 11th Five Year Plan allocation. These funds could be utilized for part funding to develop these institutions.

Leading pharmacists associations met in New Delhi recently and deliberated on the concept. Based on their recommendations PCI has given the concept note and recommendation on this to the Ministry of Health a few days ago, said Dr Suresh.