The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), a statutory body constituted to regulate the profession and practice of pharmacy in the country, has warned thousands of students who pursue higher education in pharmacy to be cautious about institutions as several of them found to be functioning without obtaining approval from the PCI.

The qualifications obtained by students from such institutions which are not approved or recognized by the PCI will not entitle such students to register themselves as Pharmacists under Pharmacy Act 1948. The approved pharmacy qualifications for registration as Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act 1948 are Diploma in Pharmacy (D Pharm), Bachelor of Pharmacy (B Pharm), Pharm D and Pharm D (Post Baccalaureate).

"It has come to the notice of the PCI that a number of pharmacy institutions are functioning in the country without seeking/obtaining recognition/approval from the Council," PCI chairman Dr B Suresh said.

The PCI's warning to the students comes in the wake of its finding during the surprise inspections on pharmacy colleges in different parts of the country. As part of its efforts to identify and clamp down on pharmacy colleges which are hoodwinking the authorities by reportedly running without proper faculties and approvals, the PCI had some time back started surprise inspections on the pharmacy colleges to verify the real picture in this regard. During the inspections, the PCI has found several irregularities in the pharmacy colleges across the country. Since then, the council has slapped notices on these institutions.

In view of this, all students aspiring to pursue any course in Pharmacy for the purpose of registration as a Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 should first ensure that the particular institution which they intend to join has been recognised/approved by the PCI for the conduct of the course of study/approved u/s 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948. The lists of such institutions are displayed on the official website of the Council (www.pci.nic.in), Dr Suresh said.