The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has written to various union ministries, state governments and UPSC to incorporate Pharm D as a qualification for various posts like pharmacists, teachers, drug regulators, etc. in their recruitment rules.

PCI president Dr B Suresh said that in addition to this, the Council has approached DCGI, MCI, CDL and CDRI with the same request. He was responding to certain allegations made by the president of the Kerala State Pharmacy Council (KSPC) that PCI is not initiating any step to amend the Pharmacy Act for the sake of Pharm D course. Pharm D professional's job has not been defined in the Act so far.

Dr Suresh said that Pharm D is an approved qualification for teaching, hence the Council has written to all institutions in India that Pharm D degrees from a PCI approved institution shall be eligible for teaching posts at appropriate levels in pharmacy institutions. He added that several institutions had already appointed Pharm D graduates as their faculty members.

In January last year, and again in March this year the Council has written to all the state governments for grant of study leave for B Pharm holders and to in-service diploma pharmacists to undergo Pharm D (Post Baccalaureate) course, he said. Further, to provide education loan the PCI in June 2010 approached the Reserve Bank of India to include pharmacy as one of the professional qualifications for the purpose of education loan to students intending to study pharmacy course.

PCI has held several meetings with managements and principals of Pharm D institutions for effective implementation of Pharm D regulations so as to create the competent manpower. Besides, the Council has conducted workshops on career opportunities for Pharm D graduates wherein prospective employers from pharmaceutical industry, contract research organizations, hospitals, academic institutions, health insurance companies etc. offered jobs to these graduates, Dr Suresh claimed.