Signaling the entry into pharmacy profession, 100 student-pharmacists who have passed diploma and degree in pharmacy, attended the 200th White Coat Ceremony (WCC) and took the ‘oath of pharmacists’ in a grand function organised by Kerala State Pharmacy Council (KSPC) at its premises in Thiruvananthapuram.

KSPC is the lone state pharmacy council in the country which conducts the white-coat ceremony for student pharmacists during their first registration of certificates with the Council. The last of the ceremonies was held last week, and it marked the 200th number of the functions so far conducted by the Council from the year 2009. The Council issues the registration certificates and identity cards to the pharmacists in the ceremony.

Sources from KSPC said, with the last week’s ceremony, the number of qualified pharmacists who put on white coats by attending WCC and took the oath has risen to 20,000 in eight years.

On enquiry, it was learnt that Kerala Pharmacy Council is the only state pharmacy council in India to conduct the white-coat ceremony and oath taking, which started in the year 2009. For one ceremony, the Council usually invites one hundred pharmacists to join, and a one-day training programme is conducted before the formal procedures including the oath taking are started. In one year, pharmacists numbering 1000 to 1500 normally attend the ceremony and accept registration certificates directly from the chief guest attending the function. Pharmacist’s oath is administered either by the president or by the registrar of the council.

“Our Council is the only state pharmacy council in India conducting the white coat ceremony very formally every year. The pharmacists who have applied for registration do attend the ceremony wearing white coats and badges. On completion of the ceremony, we will issue them the registration and identity card. This boosts their confidence and encourages them for dedicated pharmacy services. In western countries, especially in US and UK, similar ceremonies are held in a prestigious way,” said B Rajan, president of KSPC.

He pointed out the laxity on the part of the college authorities by saying that in the past, a few number of pharmacy colleges used to conduct the WCC on completion of the diploma or degree courses. Now no such interest is shown by any principal of the colleges, not only in Kerala, but also in other parts of the country. He said in February this year, four white coat ceremonies were held and 400 certificates issued.

According to him, the new pharmacists who join pharmacies in the community level or in hospitals do wear the white coats, badges and identity cards during their work time.