Pharmacy Council of India: Roles and Objectives
Established on 4th March 1948 under the Ministry of Health and Family, the Pharmacy Council of India is a statutory body to help regulate the education and profession of Pharmacy. The PCI is responsible for establishing the qualifications required to become a pharmacist in India.
In 1948, the Government of India established another regulating body on the lines of the Medical Council of India, but only for the stream of Pharmacy. Operating under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Pharmacy Council of India had been established under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, after being passed in the Parliament. The Government of India set up the statutory body for the purpose of regulating the education and profession in Pharmacy in India.
Like the MCI, the Pharmacy Council of India or PCI that both education in pharmacy, as well as the profession of Pharmacy, go smoothly and efficiently. The PCI is responsible for regulating and laying the rules for offering a Pharmacy course at any level, i.e. Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma as well as Doctoral levels.
Objectives of the Pharmacy Council of India
Under the Pharmacy Act 1948, the Pharmacy Council of India has been designed to enforce certain standards and regulations, which will ensure a smooth operation of the Pharmacy industry in the country. There are certain defined objectives of the Pharmacy Council of India, which is as follows:
Regulation of Pharmacy Education in India to facilitate the registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act 1948.
Regulation of the Profession and Practice of Pharmacy.
Roles, Functions and Duties of the Pharmacy Council of India
Like all the other statutory bodies under the Government of India, there are certain roles, functions and duties of the Pharmacy Council of India which are to be undertaken. Some of the major responsibilities of the PCI are to ensure that standards are maintained for Pharmacy education in India. Here are some of the roles, functions and responsibilities of PCI as a govt statutory body:
To Define the minimum standard of education for the purpose of qualifying as a Pharmacist in India
Designing the Education Regulations which outlines the conditions to be followed by Pharmacy Colleges/Institutions in India who are seeking approval from the PCI to offer education in the field.
Inspection of all Institutions pursuing the approval under the Pharmacy Act 1948, to ensure that they adhere to the guidelines and standards of the Council.
To define the minimum academic requirements and approve of international qualifications that lie outside the boundaries of the PCI.
To manage and maintain the Central Register of Pharmacists
Role of Pharmacy Council of India in Education
As is the case for every other technical course in India, a statutory body for the regulation of education in Pharmacy allows for a streamlined industry, with minimum standards and quality control measures put in place. In the education sector, the PCI has drafted and implemented various Acts that streamline the entire pharmacy education system.
Among Rules and Regulations that have been outlined for courses include regulations for the course structure and syllabus for Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Diploma in Pharmacy (Pharm.D) and Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm).
All Pharmacy colleges in India, that have been approved by the PCI to impart education in the field of pharmacy must adhere to the rules and regulations for each course as outlined by the council. These regulations include the subjects that should be studied, the minimum number of internships required for each course, the manner of conducting the annual or semester examinations, weightage of different topics, research papers & thesis along other important parameters that are to met during the duration of a course.
These are just some of the parameters that the Pharmacy Council of India supervises and regulates in order to ensure a high quality of pharmacy education in India, thus, resulting in globally-competitive pharmacy graduates.
For those of you who wish to pursue any one of the Pharmaceutical courses at any one of the PCI approved pharmacy colleges in India, then you may fill-up the Common Application Form available on our website.
Check out the State-Wise Pharmacy Admission Process in India
If you want to know about State- Wise Pharmacy Admissions in India, click on the links given below:
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