New syllabus for D. Pharm. from 2012-13

THE PHARMACY COUNCIL of India (PCI) will introduce a new syllabus for Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharm.) course from the next academic session – 2012-13. According to PCI President Dr. B. Suresh, the new syllabus was ready and would shortly be submitted to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for clearance. The syllabus was last updated in 1991, and needed to be upgraded because of the changes in the pharmaceuticals sector, he said. The changes were part of the efforts by PCI to bring pharmacy education in the country on par with international standards by 2020, he said. PCI is also making efforts to increase the number of institutions that impart pharmacy education, Dr. Suresh said. At present, there are 660 colleges, with efforts to open 72 new colleges to take the intake capacity from 39,147 to 43,427, he said. Similarly, there are 837 colleges that conduct the B. Pharm. Course, with efforts to open 423 new, taking the intake capacity from 36,238 to 61,537, he also said. Although B. Pharm. is the basic qualification for entry into the industry, there is considerable demand for diploma holders from not just the pharmacy trade, but from the industry, too.