Council moots ban on new pharma colleges for 3years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an apparent move to focus more on the quality of education in pharmacy sector, the pharmacy council of India has recommended the Union government to impose a three year ban on sanction for new pharmacy colleges.

However, moratorium would not be applicable to north-east states and newly formed states such as Seemandhra and Telangana, the council chairman Dr B Suresh said.

Suresh said the council’s proposal for the three year moratorium was based on the observations that most states in the country have enough number of pharmacy colleges.

“The facilities for D Pharm, B Pharm and M Pharm courses are sufficient to cater the present needs in most parts of the country. Now, it’s better to focus on improving the quality standards of these institutions than encouraging new colleges without restrictions,’’ he said.

According to Dr Suresh, the Union ministry of health has given an in-principle approval for the council’s proposal and a final notification in this regard was expected very soon.
“If there arises a need for new colleges after three years, the same can be looked into. Even while performing the duties of a regulator, the pharmacy council feels the improvement of quality standards in pharmacy colleges is essential. This would be done with the active participation and cooperation of the colleges,’’ he said.

With more focus on improving the quality standards, the council has on November 2014 brought out new regulations for the appointment of teachers in pharmacy institutes.

“Once these regulations that set minimum qualification for pharmacy teachers are strictly adhered to, the current practice of teachers changing their colleges or colleges changing its staff in the middle of an academic year would come to an end. The prevailing practice of undercutting the salary of qualified teaching staff would also come to an end,’’ he said.

As per the new rules, if a teacher is found working at more than one institution simultaneously would be debarred from teaching in any pharmacy institution approved by PCI for three years. If a pharmacy institution files a false staff declaration form, such institutions will also face disciplinary action.

According to statistics available in the PCI website, the number of pharmacy colleges affiliated to the council in the country was around 1,000 and the same in Kerala was around 30.