Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is soon going to introduce a value added course as per the discussion made in the meeting held on Feb 24th and 25th. This course which comes with the flexible timing is specifically arranged for the pharmacy students according to their convenience.

This value added course will be based on some current important topics which is not included in the existing curriculum of the institutions. The topics of the course will be taught by the pharmacy experts during the vacations. This will help the students to gain confidence while applying for the job.

Dipankar Chakraborthy, vice president, PCI said “We are requesting all the institutions to start these value added course which will not only help the students to recuperate their confidence but also in seeking employment. As all the pharmacy graduates need to be confident while getting job.”

He informed that in this 20 th century students need to be practically oriented in every field of pharmacy, so PCI is taking up the charge to help the students by starting such course which is different from normal course and this will give a boost to the pharmacy students.

Like a short course on medical devices, it will help the students who will opt for community pharmacy. Similarly a short course on quality control / quality assurance will help the students who will seek employment in industry.

Apart from this, PCI is planning to update the Education Regulation 1991, so that will help the students to be more practical oriented in pharmaceutical sector and it will also be updating PCI website which will help the teachers to track the PCI approved colleges and vice versa.

The PCI, which was established in the year 1949, under the Pharmacy Act 1948, 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.