For the first time in Pondicherry, two-year diploma courses in Ayurveda Pharmacy, Siddha Pharmacy and Homoeopathy Pharmacy were started at the Mother Theresa Post Graduate and Research Institute of Health Sciences.

The inauguration of the courses was done by the state chief minister N Rengaswami, last week. While promising all support of the government to the institute for the promotion of the courses, the chief minister wanted the students to learn the traditional systems and practice it for the welfare of the society.

The government had sanctioned the intake capacity of five students to each course, and altogether the college has admitted 15 students for the three diploma programmes. Sources from the college said it has received 124 applications from students seeking admissions. Separate class rooms were set up for each course. The certificates of the courses will be issued by the Board of Medical Education, government of Pondicherry. The course fee is Rs. 5000 per year.

Gujarat Ayurveda University in Ahmadabad and Aringar Anna Hospital of ISM in Chennai are the other two institutes in India conducting D Pharm course in Indian system of medicines.

The department of ISM in the college is conducting the diploma course in collaboration with the Ayush department of Pondicherry government. Information about the commencement of the course was given to the Ayush department in New Delhi. On completion of the course, the students will have one month internship in the ISM PHCs and private clinics in Pondicherry, the college authorities said.

The syllabus of the course will include basic anatomy, physiology, properties of medicine, manufacturing process, pharmacology, pharmacognozy and dispensing practices. Besides, there will be special papers on drugs store management, computer application in pharmacy and health education.

Expressing hope for ample chances of job opportunities, the sources in the college said the first three batches are likely to be absorbed by the Pondicherry government as there are a lot of vacancies for Ayush pharmacists in the hospitals and PHCs in the union territory at present. They said three of the twelve laboratories in the college are set aside for practical purpose of the students joining the course. The basic qualification of the applicant is 10+2.