Two to six, where is the fix?

THERE is a debate going on in the circle of highly qualified pharmacists, especially among the pharmacy teachers, that, what should be the minimum duration of pharmacist course. This is intensified after the Pharmacy Council of India announced its decision of splitting B. Pharm course into B. Pharm Industrial and B. Pharm Clinical courses. But there are lot of voices for and few against the proposal. Some even suggesting entirely a new course. Let us discuss the pros and cons of all those views in brief.

- Prof. S. Balasubramanian

Two years pharmacist course

The people for it are conservatives or self-centered who do not want to disturb existing [for more than half a Century!] 2 years D. Pharm course. They are obviously not for the upgradation of the profession, as it may affect their business and profit! Resisting all move to upgrade the course with all their might and influence for decades, these people want to maintain status co. Now knowingly or unknowingly National Education Policy [NEP] also promotes their interest and PCI has announced it is for continuation of D. Pharm course and those who leave the B. Pharm course abruptly in the middle [after 2 years of course!] will be given Diploma in Pharmacy as per NEP. Is it not a super idea? Will they give similar diploma for the students who leave after second year MBBS? When there can be semi-baked pharmacists, why not half cooked doctors? They will make an excellent pair married to serve and save humanity! PCI which has announced earlier, its intension to abolish D. Pharm is now back tracking, simply to please their masters in the government by showing they have faithfully implemented NEP. It is more important than upgrading the profession, you know! It may be apt to quote here a para from my earlier article “Boot is on the other leg, come forward PCI” published in Pharmabiz dated 9.12.2020. “If a country is progressing means, it should upgrade its professional services by a diploma to degree to post graduate to doctoral to post-doctoral professional. Instead, we will retain all these level professional means where is the logic? Look at the developed countries, in pharmacy profession, they have moved from one year diploma to 6 years Pharm. D or M. Pharm [and stopping all short-term courses]. That is progress! Just to justify its action of prolonging D. Pharm, PCI is hiding behind NEP, we believe.” Remember it was written almost 5 years back!

Three years course