Experts in the pharmacy education have cautioned that lack of efficient and talented teachers in the pharmacy colleges is fast becoming a major issue affecting the quality of pharmacy education and its reputation across the country. There is a general consensus in the industry that the indiscriminate sanction of pharmacy colleges and their desperate attempt to fill in the professors seat is the leading cause for the same.

It is understood that in their attempt to get sanction from the authorities to start pharmacy colleges, the institutions have been accepting applications from PhD candidates for the post of professors, merely on the basis of their marks without verifying their research work.  While earlier, even with severe shortage of pharmacy professors, colleges used to appoint candidates not just on their academic report but on the quality of the research they produced and guided.

Dr C J Shishoo, retired principal of LM College of Pharmacy (LMCP), Ahmedabad and honorary director at PERD, pointed out that the standard of education imparted earlier at colleges was far higher even with only very few pharmacy professors in the country. “This was because they were noteworthy of being outstanding and distinguished in their field, with high knowhow on the subjects they taught and always stood as inspiration to students. Today, in spite of having many pharmacy colleges across the country with more pharmacy professors, their contributions hardly make any difference for the professions,” he stressed.

He further added that the only plausible solution to damage control this issue is to ensure and adopt stringent measures, while granting sanctions to start new pharmacy colleges. Especially since there is a rampant upsurge in the total number of pharma colleges across the country, which is damaging the professional value and reputation of this stream.

“Over the years, the quality of education imparted in the colleges has fallen to horrible levels, thanks to the lacklustre attitude of the government in failing to take timely measures to control the situation. Students who were once perceived to be the architect and pillars of the profession hardly understand the importance of research and development, since their teachers or professors do not impart the same.  If not controlled now, it is going to be a huge issue which will sideline the potential of the profession and the scope of the students in the long run,” warned, Dr Shishoo.