Experts want a complete overhaul of pharmacy syllabus across the country as they strongly feel that the current curriculum does not support the requirements that are essential to promote pharmacy practice as a profession. There is consensus among the experts that the current structure hardly helps the development of this profession as it is more inclined towards training the students to meet the industrial challenges than preparing them for pharmacy practice
Sources point out that unlike in the western countries where due importance is given to pharmacy practice which makes it mandatory for students to undergo intensive training programme under a pharmacy before completing their degree, there is no such requirement in India on the same. Raj Vaidya an expert from the industry informs that the current syllabus rendered in pharmacy colleges is specifically tailor made to suit the demands of the industry, rather than training them to become pharmacists.
He pointed out that the government should hasten the process to include all the aspects in the pharmacy education while training these students so that they are well positioned to meet the global challenges. He stressed that the current structure not only affects the reputation of the profession but also the quality of services rendered by the pharmacist today as they are hardly aware of the intricacies of the profession like counselling the patients, dispensing the drugs as per the prescription, etc putting the life of patients at risk.
It is understood that most of the pharmacy graduates opt to work in the industry first rather than practising pharmacy and may later join the profession. Vaidya who is also an active community pharmacist pointed out that this is leading to a lot of substandard delivery of services by pharmacists and stressed that the only way to address this issue is by allowing only those pharmacists to practice pharmacy who have specialised in the same.
“It is high time for the government to change the educational syllabus as it does not help the cause of this profession, anymore. Moreover, it is outdated and needs to be revived as per the latest trends and the requirement so that there is enough job opportunities for the students once they pass out from the colleges. To encourage practice they should incorporate hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy specifically as separate subjects than some random chapters, so that the students are duly sensitised about the huge responsibilities of a pharmacists and are well trained to handle the challenges.”
Moreover, he wants the PCI to include pharmacists also in the decision making process while drafting new syllabus as they strongly feel that just replacing the old ones with new ones would not address the issues if it is not done with due reason and requirements. It is understood that the PCI is contemplating to draft a new syllabus for D Pharma.
Sources point out that unlike in the western countries where due importance is given to pharmacy practice which makes it mandatory for students to undergo intensive training programme under a pharmacy before completing their degree, there is no such requirement in India on the same. Raj Vaidya an expert from the industry informs that the current syllabus rendered in pharmacy colleges is specifically tailor made to suit the demands of the industry, rather than training them to become pharmacists.
He pointed out that the government should hasten the process to include all the aspects in the pharmacy education while training these students so that they are well positioned to meet the global challenges. He stressed that the current structure not only affects the reputation of the profession but also the quality of services rendered by the pharmacist today as they are hardly aware of the intricacies of the profession like counselling the patients, dispensing the drugs as per the prescription, etc putting the life of patients at risk.
It is understood that most of the pharmacy graduates opt to work in the industry first rather than practising pharmacy and may later join the profession. Vaidya who is also an active community pharmacist pointed out that this is leading to a lot of substandard delivery of services by pharmacists and stressed that the only way to address this issue is by allowing only those pharmacists to practice pharmacy who have specialised in the same.
“It is high time for the government to change the educational syllabus as it does not help the cause of this profession, anymore. Moreover, it is outdated and needs to be revived as per the latest trends and the requirement so that there is enough job opportunities for the students once they pass out from the colleges. To encourage practice they should incorporate hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy specifically as separate subjects than some random chapters, so that the students are duly sensitised about the huge responsibilities of a pharmacists and are well trained to handle the challenges.”
Moreover, he wants the PCI to include pharmacists also in the decision making process while drafting new syllabus as they strongly feel that just replacing the old ones with new ones would not address the issues if it is not done with due reason and requirements. It is understood that the PCI is contemplating to draft a new syllabus for D Pharma.
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