##PharmacyAct1948- Replace
The Pharmacy Act, 1948, has not evolved in tandem with the dynamic growth of healthcare in India. Its structural and functional inadequacies have led to serious consequences in producing professionally sound pharmacy councils, quality educational institutions, and competent pharmacists capable of earning parity and respect alongside co-professionals.
1. Outdated Obsolete Act:
The Act lacks provisions that reflect the current needs of the pharmacy profession. It does not address modern clinical roles, inter-professional collaboration, digital health integration, or pharmaceutical care responsibilities that are now vital for pharmacists globally. The absence of contemporary revisions has rendered the Act obsolete in nurturing modern pharmacy practice.
2. Weak Regulation sans Authority:
The Act provides limited authority and accountability mechanisms for the Pharmacy Council of India and State Councils, as they lack vision, functional autonomy, and performance standards, resulting in inconsistent regulation of pharmacy education and practice. Council elections are often politicized rather than merit-driven, leading to compromised leadership.
3. Deficient Educational Standards:
The Act’s provisions for approving institutions and courses have not kept pace with advancements in pharmacy science. There is no robust mechanism to ensure teaching quality, infrastructure adequacy, or continuous curriculum revision. As a result, many institutions focus on quantity over quality, producing graduates with inadequate clinical skills and limited inter-professional exposure.
4. No mandate on Continuing Professional Development (CPD):
The Act does not mandate or promote structured CPD or re-licensing causing professional stagnation, with many pharmacists failing to upgrade their knowledge or adapt to changing healthcare paradigms.
5. Limited Scope for Practice. There is no body to, Regulate and issue license for Clinical Practice.
The Act fails to recognize or to facilitate expanded pharmacy roles such as clinical pharmacy, Specialized therapy management, emergency response preparedness etc.This restricts pharmacists and limits their recognition by other healthcare professionals.
6. Poor Integration with National Health Policy:
Pharmacy as a profession remains sidelined in policy discourse due to the Act’s failure to align pharmacy practice with national health goals. Pharmacists are underutilized in public health programs, disease prevention, and primary healthcare delivery.
To restore professional credibility and produce pharmacists who are clinically competent, ethically grounded, and respected by co-professionals, the Pharmacy Act requires comprehensive overhaul. It must be modernized to enforce strict educational standards, support CPD, empower councils, and formally recognize pharmacists as vital healthcare providers. Without these reforms, the Act remains a missed opportunity in strengthening India’s healthcare workforce.
#MoHFw, #PMOIndia, #PCI
Pov: Bhagwan P. S
