Concerned over the poor standards prevailing in the pharmacy educational system, which is increasingly affecting the quality of pharmacy practices in the country, Raj Vaidya an expert from the industry wants the Pharmacy Council of India, (PCI) to take immediate step towards implementing strict monitoring measures to control running of pharmacy colleges. This he feels is essential to ensure that the colleges do not compromise with the future of the students and the reputation of the profession for unwarranted benefits.

He also stressed upon the need to introduce and adopt compulsory system of a pre-registration exam, for pharmacy graduates to ensure that only qualified and potential pharmacy students get a chance to work as pharmacists.

“To safeguard the interest of this profession at large, it is imperative to introduce a compulsory system of a pre-registration exam, like it exists in most developed countries. With this stipulation, even if a person passes the pharmacy course,he or she  needs to pass this pre-registration exam set by PCI to practice pharmacy. This will be the barrier, which a pharmacist will have to compulsorily cross in order to practice,” Vaidya added.

To further strengthen this initiative, he insists that the government should introduce a strong fool-proof and non-corrupt system in the pre-registration exam system and make continuing education compulsory in order to renew pharmacists' registration. Experts from the industry feel that considering the deplorable state of the pharmacy eduction, it is high time for the PCI to take corrective measures to ensure better quality of education, and better quality pharmacists in the country in the interest of public health and safety.

In a representation to the PCI, he pointed out that over the years many pharmacy colleges have come up throughout the country with least interest in propelling the professional interest of the students. Once these colleges get the sanction they misutilise their power by dolling out seats for monetary benefit to even those students who do not have the required qualification or merit.

Recently, pharmacists from the Maharashtra State Pharmacy Council also highlighted the issue of poor quality of pharmacists in the country and they attributed the cause for the same to some pharmacy colleges in the country which are doling out pharmacy certificates without attendance and answering exams, in lieu of hefty sums of money.

Vaidya, who is also a community pharmacist implored, “It has become a common knowledge that both diploma in pharmacy and B. Pharm degree can be obtained like that. It is an openly talked about matter in our country, which still unfortunately continues to stop the growth of this profession. In order to overcome this issue the Council needs to ensure strict inspections, follow-ups and action on pharmacy colleges, in a transparent manner, with no bias and no room for leniency. Colleges which do not fulfill the norms should rectify or close, as we cannot play with the lives of students nor the public who get poor quality pharmacy services.”