Pharmacy Education in India - BREAKING NEWS

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Dear Members:

I have a BREAKING NEWS relevant to the ongoing discussion. Over the past five days we have been discussing the state of affairs of pharmacy education, clinical pharmacy practice, role of a pharmacist in healthcare delivery in India. Good number of suggestions have been made and ideas floated, but as they say, "it is money that makes the mere go". Fact of the matter is that nothing can move without money. We need money to build infrastructure, to train our people, provide all facilities and conduct Continuing Education Programmes for pharmacists as well as patients. The BREAKING NEWS is that Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI has sanctioned Rs. 100 crores for the upliftment of pharmacy education in India. Major chunk of the money is to be spent on upgradation of Govt. Pharmacy Colleges in India. This is truely a milestone for the Pharmacy Council of India and its dynamic president, Dr. B.

Suresh who are going to recieve the money from Jan, 09 onwards in instalments for the purpose. In the entire history of PCI, this has been a major breakthrough. This has proved to all cynics and pessimists that everything is possible with share grit, dedication and determination. It is the perseverance and commitment of Dr. B. Suresh that is bearing fruit, otherwise pharmacy has since long remained a neglected and overlooked profession. Congrats and Kudos to Dr. Suresh and PCI. The huge amount of Rs. 100 crore is likely to change the entire face of pharmacy education in India as also the scenario of clinical pharmacy practice. Another feather in the cap of PCI and Dr. Suresh besides PharmD course. I am reproducing the full news story from Pharmabiz below for the interest of all:

Health ministry sanctions Rs 100 cr to upgrade govt pharmacy colleges

(5/12/08)

Mumbai: The Union health ministry has sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the upgradation of government pharmacy colleges in the country. The ministry will soon allocate the amount in instalments to the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) for effective utilisation of the fund. The fund, allotted under the 11th five year plan as per the proposal submitted by the PCI in last December, will be utilised to upgrade the infrastructure of government pharmacy colleges across the country. The PCI will also use the fund to conduct continuing education programmes for pharmacists and teachers in the colleges to enhance the quality of education in pharmacy colleges, informed Dr B Suresh, president, PCI. "We are expecting the fund to be flowing from January next year. Basically, the fund will be used for upgrading the infrastructure of colleges," he said. "We have also submitted a proposal for Rs 135 crore as fund for upgradation of qualification of pharmacists to the ministry lately. The ministry responded that it is being favourably considered, but we think that it will take some time for allotment in the present scenario," added Dr Suresh. The Rs 135 crore-fund programme is proposed to enhance the knowledge and ability of diploma pharmacists according to the current demands of the sector and to provide financial support for pharmacy students in the form of fellowships and stipends. Once allotted, the fund will be used to conduct sort of condensed programme for upgrading the educational standards of diploma pharmacists on par with the latest curriculum in pharmacy. "The fund will help the students to go for higher studies, which otherwise would be difficult for them to afford. The support system for diploma pharmacists is intended to upgrade the quality of pharmacy services and to make them enable to compete with the pharmacists who have completed other advanced courses," Dr Suresh said. The PCI, established in 1949 under section 3 of the Pharmacy Act 1948, is receiving the kind of fund for the first time in its history, according to PCI sources. The council has been utilising the fees received from the pharmacy colleges for its activities. The fund allotted by the ministry will help the council to enhance the facilities and services of government pharmacy educational institutions, thereby providing better service to the Indian pharmacy services sector. (Pharmabiz)

Congratulations to all fellow pharmacists.

Dr. Geer M. Ishaq

Assistant Professor

Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences

University of Kashmir

Srinagar-190006 (J & K)

Ph: 9419970971, 9906673100

Website: http://ishaqgeer.googlepages.com

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