Monopoly-is this the motto behind delayed subject addition issue?

Who are the stakeholders for pharmD(PB)? Who will protect our rights ?who will see our benefits are taken care of instead of thinking about others/PharmD , let us think about ourselves /PharmD(PB).Once you are happy then only you are able to keep others happy isnt it?one official association should be made there concerning the benefits of PharmD(PB) and for the protection of rights of pharmd(PB) students, who will take care of any issues related with PharmD(PB).whats ur say?Any talk related with the betterment of pharmD(PB) students should be encouraged here.Friends,my opinions are entirely my own and I can recommend them. I agree with you on some of the points u made here on this post, but my issue is that there should be some uniformity through out the country regarding the syllabus of a PharmD/PharmD(PB) curriculum.thats all i have to say.When I paid an amount as fees in my college to get some degree and study a curriculum, i just want to make it sure that i get the best out of it. My concern is only that the fundamental, basic ,core subjects like pathophysiology, hospital Pharmacy and community pharmacy must get added in the PharmD(PB) syllabus,this year before i pass out. I am not blaming entirely to organizations like PCI and universities for this.When I took admission in PharmD(PB), I was ignorant about this syllabus issue, but now today when i came to know about this, i want to rectify it and make other pharmD(PB) students like me ,aware about the same. However I guess some blame also goes to the abovesaid parent organizations, as when they are launching and approving a course, they should ensure that all is well, because i expect an organization's vision should be much broader than an individual's.It seems as if the Pharm- D (PB) syllabus has been structured by some beheaded ghost. However as they say you are responsible for your own life. I am not against PharmD regular, I wish them all the best and all the luck. But I am worried about myself and PharmD(PB) syllabus . There is nothing wrong in it!!!Now a days when it snows or rains, 5% of people go outside and play and enjoy it ; while 95% make a Facebook status about it.
Purpose is get aware and do something about the issue, just dont sit there doing nothing.
On pharmaceutical events and on Facebook also I see students worrried and talking about trival issues like putting prefix " Dr" infront of their name in internship or after getting degree.
all tactics to mislead students from real issue. It doesnt matter whether they write PharmD or doctor of pharmacy in degree, ultimately you remain a pharmacist.
My opinion:The real issue is they dont want to add the mentioned subjects in other universities except in deemed universities like JSS and Manipal, who dont depend on others to add any subjects in their syllabus. Thats why their fees is exceptionally high in comparison to other universities and colleges . For pharmD(PB) 3 yrs course ,they ask 9 lakhs as fees. And Dr B.Suresh who is South Indian himself, had his whole schooling, gradution and postgraduation in Mysore,South India, is also Principal of the JSS college as well as Chairman of JSS univ,who also happens to be the PCI president.They want to create monopoly and enjoy the exclusive status of colleges/universities with advantages of having additional subjects. The more delay it gets for years,the more these exclusive universities enjoy this benefit.Quote:You can tell monopoly is an old game because there is a luxary tax and super rich people can go to jail.Quote : Power corrupts, absolute power absolutely.

Or 

Office and functionaries are not matching in performance with Dr B Suresh's vision and dynamism. 

A different POV : Pharmacists have failed to impress professionally and leave professional footprints in Healthcare Sector

A different POV : Pharmacists have failed to impress professionally and leave professional footprints in Healthcare Sector . Therefore requirement of a new course like Pharm D / Pharma D (PB), which will produce professionals called Pharmacist and Pharmacotherapist. 

Is it true ? Really!!! 

Pharmaclinics are different from Mediclinics

Pharmaclinics are different from Mediclinics

Now PharmD(PB) course is unavailable in Indian Government Colleges. While Pharm. D was approved for the 2022-2023 academic session with 30 admissions, the closure of the PB program was finalized for the following year.

Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) was unavailable in India's government colleges as of the 2021-2022 academic year. This decision was made to close the Pharm. D (PB) program starting from the 2021-2022 session, subject to the examining authority submitting a disaffiliation letter. While Pharm. D was approved for the 2022-2023 academic session with 30 admissions, the closure of the PB program was finalized for the following year. 

The main reason why Pharm. D (Post Baccalaureate) courses are often unavailable in government colleges is due to regulations and funding constraints, particularly regarding the need for extensive hospital infrastructure and faculty. Privately run colleges are often better positioned to meet these requirements due to potentially higher funding and flexibility in resource allocation.

Will Pharm-D course bringup such Pharmacovigilance Centers and Pharmaclinic Setups where FDI will be huge ?

Will Pharm-D course bringup such Pharmacovigilance Centers and Pharmaclinic Setups where FDI ( Foreign Direct Investment) will be huge ? 

Really ??? ... Not Confirmed...!!! 

#PharmacyAct1948- Replace

##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

#BlunderHasHappened - Time to wakeup

#BlunderHasHappened - Time to wakeup 

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), as the statutory body governing pharmacy education and practice in India, introduced the Pharm.D program in 2008 with the vision of integrating pharmacists into clinical settings as vital members of the healthcare team. However, despite its ambitious goals, the PCI bears partial responsibility for the lack of opportunities faced by Pharm.D graduates today.

Where PCI went wrong:

1. Inadequate Stakeholder Engagement:

The program was introduced without a strong framework involving collaboration with major healthcare stakeholders such as the Medical Council of India (now NMC), hospitals, healthcare policy makers, and employers. This resulted in a lack of formal recognition of Pharm.D professionals in clinical roles within hospitals.

2. Poor Integration with Healthcare System:

PCI failed to ensure the creation of structured job roles for Pharm.D graduates in both public and private healthcare systems. Unlike MBBS or BDS programs, there was no mandate or roadmap to integrate Pharm.Ds into government hospitals or primary health centers.

3. Insufficient Policy Advocacy:

PCI did not effectively lobby for Pharm.D graduates to be recognized as Clinical Pharmacists or Pharmacotherapy Specialists under national health schemes or in state public health systems. Consequently, there are limited government posts specifically designed for Pharm.D graduates.

4. Lack of Outcome-Based Evaluation:

PCI has not periodically assessed the program outcomes in terms of employment, career progression, or role recognition of Pharm.D graduates. This has allowed gaps to widen between academic training and real-world practice.

5. Overexpansion Without Planning:

Many colleges were allowed to start Pharm.D programs without adequate hospital tie-ups or infrastructure, leading to variable quality of training and overproduction of graduates without matching demand in the healthcare sector.

6. No Defined Scope of Practice:

PCI has not succeeded in securing a legal and professional scope of practice for Pharm.D graduates that is distinct from other pharmacy qualifications, leading to confusion and underutilization of their clinical skills.

While PCI’s intention was commendable, its execution lacked foresight, planning, and collaboration. 

The responsibility now lies with PCI to rectify this through policy advocacy, defining roles for Pharm.D graduates, ensuring integration with national health systems, and creating a viable career pathway to prevent further professional disillusionment and brain drain.

Government of India should intervene, dismiss the Deadwood's and appoint an administrator of IAS  cadre to save the Profession in public interest.

#PMO, #HFW

Pov: Bhagwan P. S