The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has said that it will not approve several provisions announced by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) regarding the pharmacy courses in the country.
“Some of the provisions made by AICTE in their Approval Process Handbook 2012-2013 relating to pharmacy course are contrary to the provisions of ER- 91 and are not acceptable to PCI,” the PCI has clarified. PCI’s clarification in this regard comes close on the heels of AICTE releasing the Approval Process Handbook- 2012-2013 in which the technical education council has brought in several provisions regarding the pharmacy course which the PCI has found to be contrary to its provisions of Education Regulation-1991 (ER- 91).
Cautioning the aspiring pharma students against being carried away by the AICTE’s announcement, the PCI has said that it approves D. Pharm, B. Pharm and Pharm. D Pharm. D (P.B.) courses only in accordance with the provisions of the ER-91 and the Pharm. D Regulations, 2010 under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist. “Any pharmacy course studied/undergone/conducted otherwise than in accordance with these regulations shall not be treated as an approved course for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act,” PCI said.
The PCI further clarified that it does not approve the courses such as post-diploma course in pharmacy of duration of 1.5 year/two years; Diploma programme in Clinical Pharmacy/Diploma Medical Lab Technology/ Pharmaceutical Science/Pharmaceutics; Post diploma programme in Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy; and Degree programme in Pharma Technology/ Pharmaceutical Science/Pharmaceutical Technology/ Pharmaceutics for registration as a pharmacist u/s 32(2) or entry of additional qualifications u/s 35 of the Pharmacy Act or for the purpose of teaching pharmacy subjects in pharmacy institutions approved u/s 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
Contradicting the AICTE’s approval for more admissions for pharma courses, the PCI has said that the approved number of admissions by PCI in pharmacy courses run by pharmacy institutions approved for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 are 60 for D. Pharm, 60 for B. Pharm (in the first instance) and 100 in already approved B. Pharm institutions after verification of the facilities, 30 for Pharm. D and 10 for Pharm. D (PB) courses.
“Any admissions made over and above the sanctioned intake by the PCI/ admissions made in second shift/additional shift/evening shift are not eligible for registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act and the entire consequences of the same shall rest on the institution and the PCI will not be responsible for the same,” PCI has clarified.
Regarding the qualification of the teaching staff in pharmacy institutions approved by the PCI, it has been clarified that the qualification of teaching staff for teaching in pharmacy institution approved u/s 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 is governed by Appendix-B of Education Regulations, 1991 and Pharm. D Regulations, 2008.
In all institutions which are approved by the PCI u/s 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948, appointment of teaching faculty shall be done only with graduates & postgraduates in pharmacy who have qualified from the institutions approved under section 12 of Pharmacy Act 1948. The institutions are required to appoint teaching faculty only with graduate and post graduate qualifications in pharmacy who have qualified from the PCI approved institutions for consideration of approval under section 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
