The Goa College of Pharmacy is planning to move its base to the premises of the Goa University, at Bambolim, Goa which will enable it to begin the Pharm D course in the near future.
The college plans to start Pharm D course once it shifts to the premises of Goa University. “I had planned 3 to 4 years back when the idea of Pharm D had just come. But since it required attached hospital close by, it could not materialise. Once we shift to Goa University campus, we intend to start it as Goa Medical College & Hospital as it is just a km or two away from it. This may be a reality in the next few years,” Dr Arun Naik, chairman, management council, Goa College of Pharmacy told Pharmabiz.
Dr Naik informed that the Goa University has already agreed with this initiative and this move was initiated due to lack of space in the present location and stressed that it was difficult to reveal the details of the shifting as it can be only done after obtaining a nod from the government authorities.
He said that it was important for them to seek consent from the government authorities as it was one of the oldest pharmacy colleges in Asia and the only one run by the government to ensure that the quality of pharmacy students, passing out were the best in the country.
Dr Naik stressed that the state does not lag behind in pharmacy education as compared to the rest of the country, and it was the preferred branch next to medicine and dentistry with girls outnumbering boys almost in the ratio of 75:25. This may be primarily due to the presence of the country's best pharmaceutical companies such as Cipla, Ranbaxy, Sanofi, Cadila, Abbott, Indoco, Pfizer, etc are in Goa.
This enable students to keep abreast with the latest developments in the industry, later incorporated into the curriculum. Also, regular technical seminars and symposia are arranged by Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) in close co-operation with FDA and industry.
However Goa is not content with what it is having in terms of pharmacy education infrastructure. “I am of the opinion that much more should and can take place in Goa by way of enhancing the pharmacy education standards so that Goa becomes the beacon which will guide aspiring pharmacist and pharma graduates from India as well as abroad,” he said.