Education Regulations Framed by the Pharmacy Council of India under Section 10 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948

Education Regulations Framed by the Pharmacy Council of India under Section 10 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948

Education Regulation (ER) basically Prescribes-

(i) the standard of education for qualification as a pharmacist i.e. minimum qualification for admission to the course, duration of the course, the syllabus, mode of examination, minimum marks for passing the examination, nature and duration of practical training, etc.

(ii) minimum conditions which an institution has to provide for seeking approval of the PCI for conducting a course of study for pharmacists.

(iii) conditions to be fulfilled by the Examining Authority for approval for conduct of examinations.

(iv) conditions to be fulfilled by the institutions to be recognized for giving the practical training.

(v) Practical training contract forms for the pharmacists.

The PCI is charged with the responsibility of regulating profession of pharmacy in the country by way of prescribing Education Regulations which are required to be followed by any institution imparting D. Pharm. Education. The Education Regulations are also required to be covered by the institution imparting B. Pharm. Programme.

PCI appoints a set of inspectors called Pharmacy Inspectors who are required to inspect the institutes periodically preferably at the time of examination for the physical facilities provided in terms of laboratories, classrooms, teaching and non-teaching staff structure, teaching instructions, attendance of students and staff members, time table, records of sessional marks, conduct of annual exams, assessment of the papers in sessional and annual examination, etc. On the instructions of the President of PCI, these inspectors usually 2 for 1 institute conduct the inspection on the basis of SIF (Standard Inspection Form) submitted by the institution. The Executive Committee goes through the inspection report and takes the decision on the recognition of the institution for a fixed duration subject to the approval of the Central Council. If there are serious deficiencies pointed out in the report, the Executive Committee asks for the compliance from the institution within 3 months. If the institution fails to send a compliance report the Council, PCI can serve a withdrawal notice, to the institution for the withdrawal of recognition. If convincing reply is not sent by the institution through the state Government or examining authority within stipulated period after serving of the notice, the Council can withdraw recognition and such a withdrawal is published in Official Gazzette. No Pharmacy institution imparting Diploma can exist in the country without the approval of PC I. Any person who holds D.pharm/B.pharm is eligible to register as a registered pharmacist with the concerned State Pharmacy Council after making necessary payments of fees and submission of evidence of qualification from an institution approved by PCI.

The institution which is de-recognised by PCI can apply afresh for running the course after providing all necessary facilities as per ER. The Council can arrange for inspection once again.

Education Regulations 1991 cover different requirements for Diploma in Pharmacy Part I, II, and III.

Diploma in Pharmacy Part I and Part II are the actual instructions in I and II year respectively, whereas Part III covers practical training.

First year of D. Pharm

The subjects covered are:

(i) Pharmaceutics - I ( Theory and Practical )

(ii) Pharmaceutical Chemistry - I ( Theory and Practical )

(iii) Pharmacognosy ( Theory and Practical )

(iv) Human Anatomy and Physiology ( Theory and Practical)

(v) Biochemistry and  Clinical Pathology ( Theory and Practical)

(vi) Health Education and  Community Pharmacy (Theory)

Second Year D. Pharm

The subjects covered are:

(i) Pharmaceutics-II ( Theory and Practical)

(ii) Pharmaceutical Chemistry - II ( Theory and Practical )

(iii) Pharmacology and Toxicology ( Theory and Practical )

(iv) Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy ( Theory and Practical )

(v) Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence (Forensic Pharmacy) (Theory )

(vi) Drug Store and Business Management (Theory)