Though Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) had given approval to start Pharm D course in the government college of pharmacy attached to the Medical College at Thriuvananthapuram two years ago, the state government’s lackadaisical attitude in commencing the programme is becoming a bottleneck for poor students to do the internationally accepted course.

This has also led to charging huge amounts of money towards fees by the private colleges which conduct the course. The private colleges are collecting Rs.2 lakh for one year towards fee for Pharm D, it is learnt.

In Kerala, apart from Mahatma Gandhi University, only two pharmacy colleges are in the government sector, the other one being the pharmacy college attached to Kozhikodu Medical College which was also found eligible for the conduct of the course, but not yet received PCI approval.

According to sources, the PCI had given approval to start the Pharm D programme to the government college in Thiruvananthapuram for the academic year 2011-12. Neither the college did start the course in the previous year, nor did it try in the current year. All the private colleges conducted admissions and started the program in August this year. It is alleged that, notwithstanding the approval of PCI, the commencement of Pharm D is delayed in the government college due to the apathy of the authorities despite the course was sanctioned two years ago.

In the state, Pharm D programme is conducted in nine private colleges. Alshifa College of Pharmacy, Perinthalmanna, National College of Pharmacy, Kozhikodu, Srikrishna College of Pharmacy, Thiruvananthapuram, Amruta Institute of Pharmacy Education, Ernakulam, Devakiyamma College of Pharmacy, Kozhikodu, St Jains College of Pharmacy, Ernakulam, Nehru College of Pharmacy, Thrissur, Pushpagiri College of Pharmacy, Thiruvalla and Grace College of Pharmacy, Palakkadu. In addition to this, two colleges in Thiruvananthapuram district are expecting sanction for the course this year.

When contacted, expert academicians in pharmacy at Thiruvananthapuram alleged that the HoD of the department of pharmacy at the college is unaware of the scope of the course and showing no interest to start the course even next year. They suggested that the students and their parents should approach the state government demanding its intervention in the matter to start the course at the government sector as soon as possible.

Further, they commented that due to the increasing popularity and job opportunities abroad, very brilliant students are applying for the course in all the private colleges. In total, the demand for the course in the state is very big and nearly 300 applications are received by each college every year seeking admissions.

In Tamil Nadu, no government college is conducting the course though several colleges have applied for approval.