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 The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has said that the students passed from the open school education system of the Central and state government institutions are eligible to join various pharmacy courses and get registered as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 subject to other prescribed conditions.
The Council, in a latest circular to all approved pharmacy institutions, State Pharmacy Councils and registration tribunals, and all examining authorities and state governments, said, "Student who has passed from open School education system of the Central government/state government institutions be made eligible for admission to D.Pharm B.Pharm and Pharm.D courses as per the concerned Education Regulations".
"The students of such open school who have already passed or are undergoing pharmacy courses shall be treated as eligible for registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act 1948 subject to fulfilment of the other prescribed condition as per Pharmacy Act, 1948," added the Council.
The latest circular emphasises on the previous circulars issued by the Council in July and September, 2015, which declared the Central Council's decision to allow open school students to join pharmacy courses and register as pharmacists, though it has earlier in 2007 and 2009 refused admission to those who pass out from National Open School.
The Council, in a letter to the ministry of health and family welfare in July 10, 2015, said that a Central Council meeting in June has reviewed the earlier decision on approval of students passed from the open school system, "in view of the larger interest of the country where thrust is given to skill development."
"....approved that a student who has passed from Open School education system of the Central government/state governments institutions be made eligible for admission to pharmacy courses as per the concerned Education Regulations," said the letter.
The Council reviewed its policy with the condition that quality assurance in the standards of education should be maintained by all stakeholders and if necessary evolve a mechanism for the same such as the conduct of an exit examination after the completion of the D.Pharm course and before the registration of the candidate as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, it said.
On July 30, 2015, the Council issued a circular announcing the decision to approve a pass from the open school education system of the Central and state government institutions for admission to various pharmacy courses for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist.
On September 7, 2015, the Council also said that the matter was placed in the 265th Executive Committee meeting of the PCI held in August, 2015, and noted the decision.
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