The demand of Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) to upgrade the minimum qualification of pharmacist to B Pharm is a progressive step. This is because the healthcare sector needs a pharmacist with a minimum B Pharm qualification going by the critical services he needs to provide, said Prof Dr S Mohan, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka and Director, PES College of Pharmacy.

“The D. Pharm qualified pharmacists have definitely provided valuable service in the healthcare sector but we need to keep pace with the global scenario and cannot afford to lag behind by not upgrading our pharmacist services. We are now also concerned about the fate of thousands of pharmacists with D. Pharm qualification. For this, Pharmacy Council of India has already come out a bridge course for a two year duration in pharmacy before being allowed to register with the State pharmacy councils from 2017,” he says.

Although this particular move has been in vogue for almost two decades, it appears that this time it will come to fruition because of the introduction of the bridge course that the Pharmacy Council of India is contemplating. But, utmost care should be taken to ensure the quality of educational training that is imparted, with selection of only reputed institutions to conduct this particular course. This is because of prevailing malpractices in some pharmacy colleges and there is an apprehension that  these institutions could take advantage of the pending change of minimum qualification. If a survey is undertaken, it will be quite evident that older  candidates are enrolled, who have never attended any classes. “Hence, the concept of part time B. Pharm either from IGNOU or from any other open university will be a disastrous move which should never be encouraged. Only recognised and reputed pharmacy institutions should be considered by Pharmacy Council of India for offering the proposed bridge course for Diploma Pharmacists,” pointed out Prof. Mohan.

There are different levels of qualifications in pharmacy: B. Pharm, M. Pharm, Pharm. D and Pharm. D. Post Baccalaureate.  The pay scales of these professionals should be on par with other professionals like engineers and doctors and university teachers, based on the number of years of education at the professional level with provision for promotions. These aspects also need to be put into place by the Pharmacy Council of India.