Pharma Training Institute (PTI) under the aegis of the Karnataka Pharmaceutical Trust which has completed four years of imparting the required industry exposure to pharmacy graduates and post graduates, is being  approached by state industry associations in the country for continuous access to quality trained manpower.

Karnataka Drugs & Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (KDPMA) represented by over 50 members has benefited with PTI’s trained candidates. “Now it is the turn of Tamil Nadu Pharmaceutical Industry Association which is keen to tie-up with us to ensure constant supply of industry ready quality candidates,” said R Anandrajashekar, dean, Pharma Training Institute.

There are also several candidates coming in from Orissa and Andhra Pradesh to have  hands-on exposure and seek employment opportunities in companies across India. If state pharma associations partner with us, then they are assured of quality talent. “Since our faculty comprises only of industry experts who chip in their time during weekdays and weekends, we are committed to create and mould a fresh candidate into a valuable professional,” he added.

The Institute which was incepted in 2009, has now trained a total of 376 candidates in 17 batches with around 22-25 candidates per batch. The break-up of participants include 133 from the industry who look for add-on skills, 138 deputed from pharmacy colleges and 105 drugs control department inspectors and junior scientific officers.

PTI has also roped in Unique Consultants to impart the soft skills training and groom candidates to be industry savy. Its course curriculum committee represented by industry experts have designed syllabus for fresh pharmacy graduates and industry working professionals.

“We have ensured that the latest and relevant industry practices are selected and deliberated with practical sessions imparted in a class room environment over and above live-industry exposure is provided,” said the PTI dean.

The eight modules of the intensive short term course covers overview of pharma industry, facility-system, quality management, cGMP and probable  future manufacturing revolutions, quality control, research and development (R&D) besides regulatory affairs and intellectual property. The training methodology inculcates a sense of responsibility in quality management.

The trained performances are evaluated with regular assignments, seminars presentations, written tests ensuring that they shape up to be quality professionals armed with the high degree of excellence. While the pharma industry in the southern states have profited from the quality trained candidates, those in the western and northern parts of the country which have a large presence of production plants and research units should now look at PTI as a ready-made source of trained quality professionals, he said.

The 18th batch of training commencing on April 21 will have an additional focus on R&D with an insight into literature search, list of potential websites to retrieve scientific data and methods to classify as patents become a growing global debate, he said.