The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), constituted by the central government to regulate the profession and practice of pharmacy in the country, has cautioned the aspiring pharma students that the 2-year D Pharm course announced by the Board of Technical Education, Delhi is not approved by the PCI.

In order to save the students from the trap of the educational institutes which very often take the students for a ride by announcing courses without due permission of the concerned authorities, the PCI announced that the “2-year D Pharm course on experience basis conducted by Board of Technical Education, Delhi, 77, Vipin Garden, New Delhi, 110059 is not approved by the PCI u/s 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist”.

The PCI periodically cautions the pharmacy students against illegal the courses being introduced by the fraudulent educational institutions whose sole aim is to mint money.

The pharmacy education in the country is regulated by the PCI and it ensures uniform implementation of the educational standards throughout the country by approving the courses of study and examination for qualifying for registration as a pharmacist. The PCI is also responsible for approving the Examining Authorities for conducting pharmacy examination for qualifying for registration as a pharmacist; and also withdrawing approval, if the course of study does not continue to be in conformity with the educational standards prescribed by the PCI.

The PCI had framed Education Regulations, 1991 (ER-91) for Diploma course in Pharmacy. As per Regulation 6 of the ER-91, duration of D. Pharm course is a regular 2 academic years course in addition to 500 hours practical training spread over a period of not less than three months.

However, this is not the first time the PCI has warned the students against joining the courses not approved by the PCI. In July last year, the PCI had announced such warning against the six months diploma course started by the Kolkata-based Academy of Pharmacy Management & Guidance (APMG).  The APMG in association with All India Chemists & Distributors Federation had started this diploma course as a major initiative towards upgradation of unqualified pharmacy workers (D category pharmacists) in drug stores across West Bengal.

In April this year, the PCI had cautioned the aspiring pharma students that the two-year non-attending Diploma in Pharmacy course being advertised by the Noble Group of Institutes, Haryana was not approved by the PCI.

More recently, the PCI had also clarified to the aspiring students that it will not approve the 5-½ year integrated course in Pharmacy being introduced by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).