After several years of dilly-dallying on the issue of bringing changes in the D. Pharm (Diploma in Pharmacy) syllabus to make it more practice-oriented, the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is expected to implement the changes in the coming academic year.

As the statutory body, constituted to regulate the pharmacy education and practice in the country, and taking into consideration the demands of the pharmacy educational requirements in the country, the PCI has recently recommended several changes in the D Pharm syllabus to make it more practice-oriented than science-oriented.

“The Diploma in Pharmacy syllabus is under review and the PCI has recommended several changes to the D Pharm syllabus to make it more practice oriented rather than science oriented as it was earlier,” Dr B Suresh, president, Pharmacy Council of India and vice chancellor, JSS University, Mysore told Pharmabiz.

Dr Suresh said that the proposed changes in the syllabus are yet to be approved and may be implemented from the coming academic year. The provisions in the Pharmacy Act 1948 regulates the pharmacy education and profession in the country.

The pharmacy education and practice of pharmacy profession in the country is regulated under the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 and the Regulations made thereunder by the PCI by way of prescribing minimum standard of education required for qualification as a pharmacist and framing of Education Regulations prescribing the conditions to be fulfilled by the institutions seeking approval of the PCI for imparting education in pharmacy for student  pharmacist.

According to media reports, the members of the Council have decided that the modification of the syllabus should be taken up on priority basis. While deliberating on the issue, members had pointed out that there is a need to look at the syllabus from the healthcare point of view, i.e. whether the students coming out of the institutions can act as a healthcare provider in the current healthcare set-up.