The newly elected governing body of the Tamil Nadu Pharmacy Council will be resuming the refresher courses for the working pharmacists in the state as per Pharmacy Council of India's norms. This is part of the steps that the Council is initiating to strengthen pharmacy profession in Tamil Nadu. The Council had started the course five years back.

The council will urge the state and central governments to make the participation of the registered pharmacists to the courses mandatory through a special order, according to the Registrar of the state Council, Dr Elango.

As practicing pharmacists are required to ensure the services they provide are of appropriate quality, the course will enable them to update their knowledge in the field, help them learn about drug interactions, understand the new drugs approved and to get prepared for the patient care.

In the next meeting of the Council, which is scheduled to hold in the last week of this month, the modalities of the courses will be worked out.

The Council views that the pharmacists working in research & development wing and in manufacturing sector can participate in a range of activities including drug discovery, drug analysis, product development, drug evaluation and drug literature.

The council desires that every registered pharmacist working in the government and non-government sector should undergo this course. Initially, the training programme would be of one-day duration. There will be separate courses in every district headquarters.

The Pharmacy Council, along with pharmacy colleges and professional associations like Indian Pharmacists Association (IPA), Indian Pharmaceutical Association and Hospital Pharmacists Association (HPA) will conduct the courses. On completion of the course, the Council will issue a certificate to every participant. Only the registered pharmacists are eligible for the training programme.

The Registrar told Pharmabiz that the PCI is directing all State Pharmacy Councils to conduct this type of refresher courses to the working drug dispensers. The specific standards of Good Pharmacy Practice (GMP) can be developed only within the framework of a national programme like this, he added.

As per their norms, during a period of five years a pharmacist should attend a minimum of two refresher courses. The PCI is providing a financial assistance of Rs 15,000 for conducting each refresher course.