PharmD Course in India - Prospects & Constraints

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr Ishaq,

Congrats for taking up this issue of Pharm D course in India-Prospects and Constraints.

This morning I read the enlightened postings which energize me to write something on this issue.

As we all know pharmacists being the health information custodian and the third largest group of health care providers seep into the changing dynamics of healthcare environment where now patient is both demanding and receptive for information even on minor illnesses. To be precise the profession of pharmacy embraces a novel concept of ‘Pharmaceutical Care’ thus changing the image of a pharmacist from a dispenser to a decision maker and caregiver. Still a lot of work is needed to be done to establish the true status of this underrated healthcare group in the eyes of other stakeholder; be it a doctor, nurse or a patient.

A panegyric attempt to provide due recognition to pharmacists as well as to ascend their numbers pharmacy education has taken strides with more number of pharmacy institutes in the recent years.

India will be a role model to follow for developing countries in terms of Pharmacy Education.

As per Gazette of India, Part III, Section 4, dated 10th May 2008 the Health Ministry has paved the way for Indian pharmacy practice training and education by giving formal approval for Pharm D. regulations. The Pharm D course comprises of six academic years with five years of study and one year of internship and residency in speciality units with six months in General Medicine Department

and two-months each in other speciality departments. The clerkship coupled with a research project covering areas of biostatistics and research methodology as well as concepts of pharmacoeconomics and clinical research is also in place. Still the fruitful implementation of any such program in India needs coherence of many factors but for developing countries to follow the same track is not a bitter pill to swallow.

To produce a worldly competitive Pharm D graduate, Pharmacy Education System in will exercise following remedial measures both in curriculum, its implementation as well as pharmacy practice

Incorporation of courses of Pharmacoepidemiology, Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy with Clinical Pharmacy as a separate entity

Formation of an Internal Quality Assurance Committee (IQAC) within each pharmacy institute ensuring the delivery of laid down components of the curriculum

“Training of the Trainers” by interactive, hands-on workshop with the help of international faculties to generate excellence in novel and innovative aspects of curriculum

Thanks and Regards

Shazia Jamshed

[Guest guest]

Dear Members:

Reproduced below please find an editorial article on PharmD course in India copied from Pharmabiz for fair use. Looking forward to your feedback.

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

PHARM D IN INDIAWednesday, October 15, 2008 08:00 IST P A FrancisThe role of a pharmacist is undergoing major changes world over in the wake of notable progress made by the pharmaceutical science and education today. Pharmaceutical science is considered to be an independent branch of science dealing with all aspects of drugs and pharmaceuticals. A pharmacist is a vital link in the physician-patient chain and he is expected to play a key role in the dissemination of pharmaceutical knowledge. The practice of pharmacy includes the custody, preparation and distribution of pharmaceutical products besides providing advice on health and nutrition related issues. A pharmacist today needs to be fully equipped with all these capabilities. In India, although pharmaceutical industry has advanced over the last 25 years, the pharmacist here continues to be a backroom boy in a

pharmaceutical factory or a salesman in a retail pharmacy. This image has to change and it can be done only by raising the educational standards of pharmacists. There has been no serious attempt to modify the curricula of pharmacy education in India for several years. Whereas, manufacturing standards, quality control practices, research activities and clinical practices in this industry have undergone critical changes during these years. A fresh graduate coming out of a pharmacy college in India is largely oblivious of these ground realities. With growing internationalization of Indian pharmaceutical industry, the standards of pharmacy education need to be world class. Pharmacy Council of India has been pressing for this change for years and the government has finally approved starting of much sought after six year Pharm D course in India.The PCI has approved 22 colleges to start Pharm D course from this academic year. The Council has already

notified the procedures and fees structure for pharmacy institutions to apply for accreditation to commence the course. The procedures, published in the website of the PCI along with the online application form, insists that the institutions or individuals who apply to start Pharm D course should provide 300-bed hospital facility. The institutions should provide necessary other infrastructural facilities as prescribed by the PCI under Appendix - B of Pharm D regulations. Initially, the permission to start the Pharm D programme will be issued for a period of one year and will be renewed on yearly basis subject to verification of facilities and achievements of annual targets. The institutions have to apply for renewal six months prior to the expiry of the initial permission. PCI has designated a regular panel of inspectors for periodic inspection of pharmacy colleges having Pharm D course throughout the country. This will be a critical responsibility on

PCI considering the fact that several pharmacy colleges offering B Pharm degree do not have basic lab facilities and qualified faculty. Any lapse in monitoring and periodic inspection of these Pharm D institutions can tempt their managements to compromise on facilities and thereby devalue this advanced course.

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