The planning commission has approved an outlay of Rs.100
crore during the 11th Five Year Plan to the Pharmacy Council of India
(PCI) for strengthening and upgradating of government pharmacy colleges
in the country. The PCI has proposed to utilise this allocation of Rs.100
crore for up-gradation of diploma institutions to degree level and for
introduction and addition of M Pharm courses in the existing and new
institutions.

According to Dr B Suresh, president, PCI, “We will
also be using this fund for faculty development programme and
continuing education programme (CEP) for the working pharmacists. We
have already sent necessary proposal in this regard to the ministry of
Health and Family Welfare for taking approval of the competent
authority. As soon as we receive the government approval, we will
initiate the process for upgradation.”

The PCI has already
called for proposals from pharmacy institutions to extend one time
financial assistance for up-gradation of government diploma pharmacy
institutions to degree pharmacy institutions and for introduction of M
Pharm course or new M Pharm specialisation in government degree pharmacy
institutions. PCI is responsible to set up a pharmacy education that
focuses on the future requirements of pharmacists in the country, taking
into consideration the demands of the healthcare landscape in the
future. It is therefore important that the pharmacy education should be
constantly revised and updated to meet the challenges.

The PCI
with the support of the Ministry of Health has been making continuous
efforts to improve quality of pharmacy education in the country through
introduction of new courses, drafting new regulations for undergraduate
and postgraduate courses, revising course curriculum with emphasis on
practice aspects of pharmaceutical sciences, conducting continuing
education programmes for registered pharmacists, conducting training for
inspectors as well as devising training module for pharmacy teachers.

The
PCI, which was established in the year 1949, under the Pharmacy Act
1948, recently completed 60 years of service in pharmacy education and
practice. It is the statutory body formed to regulate the pharmacy
education and practices in the country. Its duties include framing of
education regulations prescribing the conditions to be fulfilled by the
institutions seeking approval of the PCI for imparting education in
pharmacy and to ensure uniform implementation of the educational
standards throughout the country.