Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) will soon initiate a dialogue with the central government for a comprehensive amendment in the Pharmacy Act 1948 for effective regulation of pharmacy practice in the country. The PCI would also explore the possibilities of upgrading the standards of pharmacy education and try to bring in more changes in its education reforms 2001 proposal so as to make it acceptable to the government.

Informing this to Pharmabiz.com, Dr B Suresh, president PCI, said that the council has already set up a law committee to work on the practice regulations that need to be incorporated in the Act. He felt the need for a proper definition of "pharmacy profession" in the Act.

Though Pharmacy Act 1948 was enacted to regulate the profession of pharmacy, it does not prescribe any code of conduct for pharmacists. "The liabilities of pharmacists are not clear in the Act, there is no action/penalties mentioned", Dr Suresh said.

According to him, a comprehensive revision of the Act can be of much help to the practicing pharmacists. "Today pharmacist is not charging any fee for his services. Pharmacy is a profession and the pharmacist should be in a position to charge his professional fees. In the next couple of years, I would like to see pharmacy profession gaining more recognition, with more people in the community and hospital pharmacy being offered fee for their services," he opined.

"Unless pharmacist's role in community and hospital pharmacy is clearly defined, and until pharmacist is motivated to take up more responsibilities, there cannot be any reduction in drug induced diseases that are occurring in our country. Community pharmacist should have the technical knowledge. We need to improve the knowledge base of the practicing pharmacist." Dr Suresh said. The PCI dialogue with the central government would cover all aspects of pharmacy profession, he added.

According to Dr Suresh, the educational reforms (ER) 2001 had to be kept in abeyance due to its insistence on scrapping diploma courses in pharmacy education. "We need to think practically. Once B Pharm is made the minimum qualification for pharmacy practice, we may face shortage of qualified personnel. Even today, we are not able to find sufficient qualified pharmacists in our retail shops. What would happen if we insist upon degree holders tomorrow? Things would be worse," he felt.

The government had asked PCI to propose a phase wise implementation programme for ER 2001. Though PCI submitted its proposal six months ago, the centre is yet to take any action, as the implied change is so huge. The president hinted that PCI may have to think of less radical reforms if it needs to be accepted by the government.