After years of dilly-allying on the issue, the Union health ministry has at last given the green signal for the introduction of Pharm.D course in the pharmacy colleges in the country. Introduction of the advanced Pharm.D course will go a long way in bringing the pharmacists of the country on par with international standards. A notification in this regard has been issued by the health ministry setting criterions for starting this course in the pharmacy colleges. Major prerequisites for starting the Pharm.D course included proper teaching and building infrastructure, tie-up with any 300-bedded hospital or own hospital and prior permission from the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI).The PCI, a statutory body under the ministry of health to regulate the pharmacy education in the country, has been making all efforts to introduce this advanced course in the country. The PCI had sent draft regulations for Pharm.D course to the health ministry for its final approval before introducing the course. Plus 2 students with science as main subject are eligible to join this course which will open up new vistas for the students as the course will have validity all over the world including advanced countries like US, UK, etc. For the students who have already completed B Pharm course can join the Pharm.D (post baccalaureate) course. The duration of the Pharm.D course will be for 6 academic years (5 years of study and 1 year internship/residency). In the one year internship, a student is exposed to actual pharmacy practice/clinical pharmacy services and acquires skill under supervision so that he/she may become capable of functioning independently.Minimum qualifications for admission to Pharm.D course: (1) should be a pass in 10+2 examination with physics and chemistry as compulsory subjects along with one of the following subjects: mathematics/biology/bio-technology/computer science; (2) A pass in D.Pharm course from an institution approved by the PCI u/s 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948; and (3) any other qualification approved by the Pharmacy Council of India as equivalent to any of the above examination. For Pharm.D (post baccalaureate) course one should be B.Pharm from an institution approved by the PCI u/s 12 of the Pharmacy Act. Institutions running B.Pharm programme approved under section 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 will only be permitted to run Pharm.D programme. Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) programme will be permitted only in those Institutions which are running Pharm.D programme. (source: Pharmabiz)
IP pharma doc believe that this decision will create confusion in students on whether to go for B.Pharm or Pharm.D.? Further, the said decision will lower the education standards in private colleges where facilities and staff are lacking. In our opinion if Govt. wants to go ahead on this issue then the said course should be started in the reputed institutes like NIPER, Hamdard, BHU, College of Pharmacy (Delhi), Manipal Pharmacy College, MS univesity Vadodra, UDCD Mumbai, UIPS Panjab University (Chandigarh) etc.
