Discussion of Pharm.D Associations with EC of Pharmacy Council Of India

Minutes of meeting: Discussion of Pharm.D Associations with EC of Pharmacy Council Of India on 18.2.2019.

New Delhi: 

Today we had a meeting with Central Executive Committee (PCI) at New Delhi under the chairmanship of Dr. B Suresh, Chairman Pharmacy Council of India New Delhi. In CEC meeting all the Pharm D Leaders from various states pressed their demands to the PCI president Dr.B. Suresh, Secretary Smt Archana Mugdal and others CEC members including Mr. Sailendra Sharaf (Vice President), Mr. Venkata Reddy (PCI Member, AP) Mr. Chouhan (member) and more. Almost 2.5 hr of long discussion on each and every issues related to Pharm D was held. PharmD leaders Dr. Sai Kumar Katam, Dr.Lakshmikanth Sankara, Dr. Chandrasekhar Banoth, Dr. Abhishek, Dr.Kaushik, Dr. Manjeet singh, Dr. Ram prasad, Dr. Arjun,Vinay kumar bharti and students strongly demanded clinical Pharmacy cader.

Below are some of the key points which were discussed in the meeting:

1. Inclusion of clinical pharmacist job specifications in pharmacy practice regulations 2015 & PCI president assured clinical pharmacist & pharmacovigilance officer will be included in regulations by the way of amendments.

2. We asked PCI to lobby with health ministry to utilise services of PharmD in all National & State Health Programs.

3. We ask PCI to stop giving permissions to colleges which do not have basic amenities to conduct the course. We also asked to recall permissions of colleges which do not have 300 bedded hospital tie-up. We have given RTI information which are not having 300bedded hospital tie-up. PCI president suresh sir assured to take action againt erring institutions

4. Regarding Dr. prefix and stipend

5. We asked for the minutes of the CEC meeting conducted today . He has assured this information will be sent to all the persons attended today.

He assured of review meeting after 6 months to pursue the status of work.

Pharm.D gets AICTE approval !! Pharm.D students to get stipend and scholarships !!

All-India Council for Technical Education has decided to approve Pharm.D course . All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), with the permission of the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) of the Government of India, has included both the six-year and the three-year Doctor of Pharmacy programmes (Pharm D and Pharm D – PB ((Post Baccalaureate)) in the Approval Process Hand Book for 2018-19.

As per AICTE Act 1987 and the AICTE Regulations 2016, like other engineering and technology programmes, all pharmacy degree and diploma programmes have to be approved by AICTE. But Pharm.D programme was not approved by the AICTE. However many Pharm D colleges misled the public as they had AICTE approval for B.Pharm course. Pharm.D students never got opportunities to apply for various schemes of AICTE like travel grant and seminar grant. They could not appear for G.PAT examinations because Pharm.D was not an AICTE approved programme. Pharm.D (PB) students, even if G.PAT-qualified, were not eligible to get stipend. Many Pharm.D qualified persons are doing PhD programmes in various Indian Universities, without any financial support from AICTE. Some Universities provide financial assistance from UGC for the PhD programmes of those who completed Pharm.D.

By this approval, Government of India has now purely recognized both the courses after ten years of their launching by the Pharmacy Council of India. Regarding approval announcement, the AICTE, on December 18, published the approval handbook on its website.

As per the Hand Book norms, from next academic year, only AICTE approved institutions, running degree in pharmacy (B Pharm), will be permitted to run both the programs of the Pharm D. Until last year, several PCI approved institutions were conducting the course without the approval of AICTE. Institutions already running Pharm.D with the approval of PCI, have to apply further for AICTE approval to continue running the course.

From next academic year onwards, any institution which wants to start the course or seeks extension of the existing programs, has to apply for the approval of AICTE. Besides, all institutions, both already running the programs and those newly starting, have to comply with all the norms specifying adequate infrastructural facilities mentioned in the Approval Hand Book.

AICTE will verify all documents of the already running institutions and also for those newly applying. The Council will grant approval only after strict verification of the documents.
Now after AICTE approval the students of Pharm D will be eligible to get any scholarship or stipend or grant from MHRD to attend seminars or workshops. Further, they will get opportunities for research in the Indian pubic pharmacy research universities, known as, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER). Pharm D qualification was not included in the list of eligibility criteria for admission to Ph D due to disapproval of the course by AICTE.

Approval Process Handbook. (2018–19)

DPA demands Punjab & Maharashtra govts to create posts of clinical pharmacist

DPA-Maharashtra team has met various Cabinet Ministers during the winter assembly sessions regarding issues of Pharm.Ds

-Dr. Ranjit Patil, Minister of state Home (Urban), Urban Development, General Administration, Law and Judiciary and Parliamentary Affairs.
- Shri. Rajkumar S Badole, Hon'ble Minister of State Social Justice & Special Assistance
- Vinod Tawde Hon'ble Education Minister of Maharashtra
-Madan Yerawar Minister of state Energy, Tourism, Food and Drug, Administration and Public Works General Administration
- Dhananjay Munde Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council
- Narayan Rane Member (elect) of Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ex. chief minister.

We have also given representation Letters to their official PA to:
1. Pankaja munde, Minister Rural Development Women and Child Development
2. Pravin Pote, Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council Industries and Mining, Environment, Public Works
3. Dr. Deepak Sawant, Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council, Shiv Sena Public Health and Family Welfare

Attention to the managements of Pharm.D colleges in the state of Telangana

27/07/2015 Attention to the managements of Pharm.D colleges in the state of Telangana - Accorded permission for Pharma-D course for the academic year 2008-09 batch

 

Pharm.D college managements were directed to immediately implement the said governement direction under initimation to Telangana State Council for Higher Education (TSCHE).

 

 

Pharm.D interns to get 5K stipend per month, resolves government and court

                               

The government of Telangana and High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for the State of Telangana and the State of Andhra Pradesh took a final decision regarding stipend for Pharm.D students during internship period.

The letter bearing No.4665/TE/A2/2014-1, dated 27-06-2015, wherein the State Government issued a clarification in the issue. Paragraph No.5 of the said letter reads as under:

“To resolve this issue, Government have conducted a meeting with the officials concerned along with the representative of a Pharm.D College on 22-06-2015 and after careful examination of the entire matter and keeping in view the suggestions of Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi, have decided that the Pharmacy Colleges must give stipend of Rs.5,000/- per month to the students during the period of Internship i.e., 6th year of Pharm D.Course to the batch of students who were admitted during 2008-09 in this Course and who have undergone the Internship programme (sixth year) as prescribed in the curriculum in the academic year 2013-14, out of the Tuition Fee of Rs.86,000/- collected by them.”

As evident from the said letter a decision was taken by the Government that the Pharmacy Colleges must give stipend of Rs.5,000/- per month to the students during the period of Internship i.e., 6th year of Pharm D.Course to the batch of students who were admitted during 2008-09 in this Course and who did undergo the Internship programme (sixth year) as prescribed in the curriculum in the academic year 2013-14, out of the Tuition Fee of Rs.86,000/- collected by them.

References:

1. High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for theState of Telangana and the State of Andhra Pradesh order Copy.

2. The letter bearing No.4665/TE/A2/2014-1, dated27-06-2015, where in the State Government issued a clarification.

Download the official documents by clicking on above reference links.

For more detailed information regarding Stipend for PharmDs during internship go through the below articles:

Stipend for PharmD students during internship 

PCI responds to RevolutionPharmD'S survey:Stipend for PharmD students during internship !

Good NEWS about Stipend for Pharm.D Students during internship

APSCHE  says not to collect  fee during  Pharm.D internship

Academicians hail govt's decision to introduce Pharm D in govt medical colleges to improve pharmacy education

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Saturday, August 09, 2014, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

Academicians of pharmaceutical sciences from various educational institutions have welcomed the decision of the Union government to improve pharmacy education in the country by introducing Pharm D course in government medical colleges and increasing the number of institutions and the students intake there.

Hailing the announcement of health minister, Dr Harshvardhan, in this regard as a welcome move, the pharmacy teachers have commented that the minister’s dynamic initiative is an exemplary step towards the profession of pharmacy. Prof P Suresh, Principal of the Institute of Pharmacy & Technology, Cuttack, Orissa, said a need-based market driven dynamic curriculum for B. Pharm and M. Pharm with public-private partnership of industry-academia interaction process should be developed with an in-built provision for employability, skills/employment opportunities for all pharmacy graduates in the country.  

Centre to take initiative to introduce Pharm D programme in govt medical colleges

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Thursday, August 07, 2014, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

With a view to improve the quality of pharmacy education in the country, the Union government is planning to introduce several measures including introduction of the integrated six-year course, Pharm D in the government medical colleges.

Government will also revise the curriculum of B Pharm and M Pharm courses and the regulations for the same have been drafted. The number of pharmacy degree colleges and the students intake will be increased in the coming years.

The Union minister of health and family welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan announced the decision of the government in Parliament recently.

Issue of mis-use of Pharmacist registration certificate.

Unfair practices adopted in certain pharmacy institutions/examing authorities

New Delhi ,13 July 2014: The Pharmacy council of India has written to All institutions approved by PCI,All Universities / Examining Authorities conducting Diploma, Degree, Pharm.D and Pharm.D (PB) regarding Curbing of unfair practices adopted in certain pharmacy institutions/examing authorities.

It has been brought to the notice of the PCI that in some of the pharmacy institutions / examining authorities, the following types of unfair practices are being adopted -

a) Students do not attend the classess regularly and their attendance is marked.

b) All the classes both theory and practicals as per the norms are not conducted.

c) Examining Authorities do not follow the statutory norms prescribed by the PCI in holding examination.

d) No proper and effective checks are done on the copying during the examinations.

e) Migration policy of the PCI is not strictly followed etc.

Job prospects in the US after PharmD from India

Hello Students,

                    The PharmD degree in India does not train you adequately to become a clinical pharmacist in the United States. Students here receive very detailed clinical/hospital pharmacy training which is just not available and/or provided in India. The road towards eventually becoming a licensed US clinical pharmacist is a long and arduous one and is also likely only if you have US citizenship or permanent residency. Job prospects for US pharmacists right now are bleak as there are many private schools that have sprung up in the US which offer PharmD degrees. Also many Indian pharmacists who have eventually obtained pharmacist licenses are now facing the prospect of going back to India after their 6 year final H1B visa expiry since it is becoming very difficult for companies to file for a green card for such individuals. If you are thinking of coming and settling permanently in the US your best bet may be to pursue a graduate degree such as a PhD where there is still some employment demand. Overall employment demand for qualified foreign individuals is at an all time low here.

Please let your friends know this before you send me repeated queries as I do not have the time to respond to the same questions over and over again.Thank you very much, Dr. Rajesh Balkrishnan.

Related News: 

§  Licensure for Indian Pharm D graduates in US a tedious and lengthy process: Dr Christine Birnie

§  Academics concerned about future of Pharm D and scope of its job opportunities

Telangana, Andhra Pradesh stand sought on PharmD Tuition fee

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday sought to know the stand of the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the plea challenging the action of the management of private colleges in demanding payment of tuition fee of about Rs 92,500 each for sixth year (internship) for Pharma D course.

While dealing with the plea by K. Mallesh and several other students of Pharma D course, Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao directed both the governments to file their affidavits on the averments of the plea within four weeks.

The judge directed the college managements to not insist on payment of fee from the petitioner students and to allow them for viva exam.

The petitioners submitted that collection of tuition fees for the sixth year course (internship period) was not permissible in accordance with the proceedings issued by the AP State Council for Higher Education on January 28, 2014.

They said that as many as 350 students of sixth year Pharma D course were getting affected by the decision of college managements of not permitting them to attend the viva exam to complete the course.

Pharm.D Course-Clarification regarding nomenclature of Pharm.D/Pharm.D(Post Baccalaureate) on pass certificates.

Ref.No.14-126/2012-PCI/46011-36                          Dated : 8^th February, 2012

To

All Universities/Examining Authorities approved by the PCI in respect of Pharm.D/Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) course.

Sub:     Pharm.D Course - Clarification regarding nomenclature of Pharm.D/Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) on pass certificates.

Sir/Madam

This has a reference to the subject cited above. 

In this connection, I am directed to invite your kind attention to Regulation 18 of the Pharm.D Regulations, 2008 as notified in the Gazette of India Part-III, Section 4, No.19 dt.10^th to 16^th May 2008.  The same is reproduced below 

Pharmacy colleges in Kerala flouting rules in admitting students for Pharm D course

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Monday, June 16, 2014, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]
Taking advantage of government apathy, the managements of the private pharmacy colleges in Kerala are allegedly flouting the rules and regulations enacted by government for admissions for pharmacy courses, specifically for Pharm D programme.

The breach of norms includes collection of capitation fees even from meritorious students and violation of reservations guaranteed for OBC and SC-ST candidates.

The supercilious managements are at their willfulness to defy the merit quota for admissions and fill up all the 30 seats (100 per cent) of the Pharm D in management quota, says students seeking admissions to the six year course.

According to some admission seekers, certain colleges are asking for a sum of Rs. 10 lakhs as capitation fee in addition to the annual course fees. The course fee for the first year of Pharm D comes around Rs. 2 lakh. Students who secured over 98 per cent marks at Plus 2 level also have to pay capitation fee for their admissions.

EXPERTS EXCHANGE IDEAS AT GLOBAL PHARMA MEET

Saturday, 15 February 2014 | Dehradun
Dozens of pharma specialists from India and abroad held discussions and ideas over the current trends in the discipline of pharmaceutical sciences and threw light and expressed their perceptions over the recent research assignments conducted in the field of pharma education and discipline in the 2-day ‘International Conference on Pharmaceutical Science’ (ICPS-2014) that was started in Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Technology and Science (SGRRITS) in Dehradun on Friday.

After inaugurating the first conference of its kind in the Uttarakhand,  President of Pharmacy Council of India Dr B Suresh highlighted the significance of ‘Pharm-D’ course. He said that in foreign countries, ‘Pharm-D’ course is very much popular and opted by a large number of students and said that Pharm-Ddegree holders can seek employment in hospitals as clinical practitioners.

In foreign countries, Pharm-D students are playing quite a significant role in patient care. He emphasised that pharmacy professional have their own crucial role in clinical services. Speaking on the occasion, vice-president of Centre for Responsible Nutrition, USA, Dr James Griffith provided useful information about conventional and herbal medicines. A day will come when the herbal medicines of today will be the patents of tomorrow. The way the Ayurvedic, Unani and traditional Chinese medicines are gaining popularity, the time has come for the herbal medicines also to be patented.

Indian Pharmacists Revolution Yatra reaches Andhra Pradesh State

The Indian Pharmacists revolution yatra (Kashmir to KanyaKumari) campaign was launched on 4 January 2013 by Udyog Development Foundation, from Jantar mantar New Delhi. The Yatra has already completed Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal, Uttarakhand,Uttarapradesh,Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Odisha, WestBengal, Sikkim, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunchal Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and now in Hyderabad ,Andhra Pradesh.

Change in the examination pattern of Pharm.D--KUHS

KERALA UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

THRISSUR – 680 596

NOTIFICATION

No: 0275/AC II/BoS/2012(pharm)                                                                                          Dated: 09/07/2013

Ref: - 1. Minutes of meeting of BoS P.G. Pharmaceutical Science dated 30.7.2012.

          2. Decision No: 3.11 of the minutes of 3rd meeting of the Academic Council 15/11/2012.

Principals of all Pharmacy colleges affiliated to KUHS  conducting Pharm D courses are hereby informed that the meeting of BoS P.G. Pharmaceutical Science held on 30.7.2012 has decided to change the pattern of question paper for all Pharm D Examinations scheduled from August 2013 onwards. The decision of the Board of studies was approved by the 3rd meeting of the Academic Council. The main change in the examination pattern is that  the 22 question format has been changed to 11 question format. There is no change in the total marks. The Changes shall be intimated to all students of Pharm D course.

Academics concerned about future of Pharm D and scope of its job opportunities

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai 
Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]
With just a few weeks to commence the next batch of Pharm D course in the recognised colleges in India and the college managements are making a last ditch effort to woo students for admissions, senior academicians are concerned about the future of the course and scope of job opportunities for the degree holders.

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) had introduced Pharm D course as an educational reform to match global standards, but critics are of the opinion that the course will not seem to match the claim. The course was started in 2008 giving much expectation to students of pharmacy in India, especially the aspiring pharmacists who were targeted for the six-year course and the B Pharm graduates to the lateral entry for the three-year post baccalaureate course.

Giving a warning to the aspirants of the course, the faculty members who have thorough knowledge about the various courses such as D Pharm, B Pharm and M Pharm are advising the students to opt for degree course suitable to Indian scenario rather than dreaming of western opportunities.

Current Situation of Pharm.D in India.

1) It would be better if the Council makes the CROs and other Clinical/Drug safety related Industries to be aware of Pharm.D and the positions they will be eligible.

2) I have been trying to find an opportunity but some companies say – over qualification but some say – they r looking for MBBS or people with Experience.

3) Pharm.D in India itself is a new course and of course there will be no chance of Experience, then what a Pharm.D can do?

4) In the general public, there are several misunderstandings and even some people are getting confused too.

5) Final thing i would like to mention you is, there is no proper control on Pharma and its career, may be this condition is only for Indian Pharma graduates.

If possible please try to make these things notified by higher authority, WHO CAN BRING SOME CHANGE unless those who listens and says – lets wait, we have other works.

Thank you

Dr. Vijay Bhaskar Reddy K
Pharm.D

only a Pharm D pharmacist can understand and identify various generic names of the modern drugs

TN pharma bodies to approach health ministry for clarity in proposed change in product licensing

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PMA) of Tamil Nadu will approach the Union health ministry and the DCGI office for clarification on its recent directive to state licensing authorities instructing them to issue product licences only with generic names henceforth.

Pharm D in 14 more colleges

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) on Monday finally granted approval to 14 additional colleges in the ANDHRA PRADESH state to conduct the six-year course in doctor of pharmacy (Pharma.D). Of the 55 colleges which had applied for approval and renewal, only 42 were allowed to proceed with the enrolments.