In order to improve the quality of pharmacy education in the country, especially the higher education, the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) will soon enter into an agreement with Association of American College of Pharmacy (AACP) under which the pharmacy colleges in US and India can exchange their faculties. AACP is an association of several pharmacy colleges in the US.

The faculty exchange programme with US is significant in the wake of the widespread opinion among the experts in the pharmacy education in the country that the existing faculty in the country is not well versed to teach a course like Pharm D which was introduced in the country last year by the union health ministry. Though a total of 27 pharmacy colleges have received approval from the PCI last year to start Pharm D, it is understood that many of them did not start this advanced course so far, mainly due to the lack of good faculty.

The agreement with AACP will go a long way in improving the quality of education because Pharm D has been in existence in US for a long time now and the faculties in American colleges are well versed with the course. The By the faculty exchange programme, the Indian pharmacy colleges will get the much needed input in this regard.

PCI chairman Dr S Suresh, who visited the US for the purpose recently, said that the PCI will sign the agreement with AACP in about two months' time. The tie-up with the AACP is part of the PCI's efforts to rope in experienced faculties from other countries where Pharm D programme has been existing for some time.

Another major benefit of the tie-up with the AACP will be that once the faculty exchange programme between Indian and US colleges starts, Indian students will get recognition globally, Dr Suresh said.