Entailing the ongoing controversy over the recognition of Master of Pharmacy (MS) programme offered by National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has come out with a clarification that the NIPER's MS programme has not been specifically commented anytime by the council and is not an issue under the consideration of the body.

The Council, in a latest notice, has clarified that the “PCI has not any time made any specific comments relating to the recognition of Post graduate degrees awarded by the NIPER as the same is not an issue under the consideration of PCI.” The clarification was issued under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, noting the responsibilities of the PCI in the backdrop of recent press news stating that PCI has not recognised the Post Graduate degrees awarded by NIPER, says the notice.

However, the Council, detailing its onus as per the Act, clarified that the “MS programmes offered by any institution/university in the country does not figure as an approved qualification under the Pharmacy Act.”

As per the Act, the PCI has the responsibility to frame regulations prescribing the standard of education required for qualification as a pharmacist, approve the pharmacy institutions for the purpose of practising the profession and to lay down the norms and standards for pharmacy institutions including qualification and experience of teaching staff desiring to obtain approval of the PCI.

The PCI has, accordingly, framed regulations namely Education Regulations, 1991 and Pharm D Regulations, 2008 which are notified in the Gazette of India. These regulations prescribe the norms and standards for pharmacy institutions including qualification and experience of the teaching staff to be appointed by these pharmacy institutions, says the clarification. Meanwhile, the PCI top officials has refused to comment on the clarification.

The non-approval of the particular MS programme came up in the end of January, 2010, as the PCI stated that it has learnt about some pharmacy institutions offering two year full-time MS Programmes in Industrial Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Quality Control to pharmacy graduates and such MS programmes are not approved by the PCI either for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act to practice the profession or any other purpose like teaching in approved pharmacy institutions.

A large number of MS students in NIPER has raised voice against the PCI decision, with the support of the NIPER management and the matter was discussed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals for settlement.