The president of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) said that the Council is committed to introduce the revised syllabus for the Diploma in Pharmacy course as new Education Regulations (ER 2016) from this academic year, and it is  making all attempts for it.

If any technical hurdle or government level delay happens this year, at any rate it will be implemented in the beginning of next academic year.

The PCI president was responding to a reported allegation by a posse of academic experts in pharmaceutical sciences that it is due to the apathy of the Council president the updated syllabus remains unimplemented.

Answering to queries from Pharmabiz, Dr B Suresh, president of PCI, has pointed out that clearance from government side is required for implementation of new regulations. The government has to notify the regulations submitted by PCI in the Gazette, and it is a long process. PCI will never maintain a lackluster attitude in this case as stated by academicians, he asserted.

“The council is in the process of getting the regulations cleared from the ministry of health and family welfare. The implementation of the same in this year will depend upon the date of Gazette notification. As soon as the process is over, it will be implemented throughout the country. If any delay happens this year, it will be enforced from the starting of next year”, he said.

While explaining the reason for the delay happened to the updated syllabus, Dr Suresh said after submission of report by the Syllabus Revision Committee, it requires to be approved by the Council. After the Council’s approval, the same has to be put on the PCI website. Besides, it should be sent to all stakeholders for giving inputs and comments. The feedback so received need to be incorporated, and again put to the council for further approval.
 
“The Council in its recently held meeting, June 2016, approved the final draft regulations and syllabus which now stand forwarded to the ministry for its approval and subsequent notification”, he said by adding that PCI will pursue and get the regulations notified as early as possible.
 
Snubbing all allegations and criticisms of apathy raised against the PCI by the eminent academician, Dr R N Gupta, the president of PCI said the Council has a vision for imparting quality education at the entry level of the pharmacy course. He hopes that the implementation of Education Regulations 2016 at the earliest will ensure molding of trained and skilled pharmacists who can cater to the present day needs of the health care delivery of the country.
 
Dr Suresh said the new regulations will lay emphasis on the subjects like pharmacotherapeutics, social pharmacy, patient counselling, pharmacovigilance, community pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical jurisprudence. The pharmacist will be equipped to manage and provide pharmaceutical care at its optimum level.