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For the successful implementation of the bridge course, ‘Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy Practice’ (B Pharm Practice) on a pan India basis, the Pharmacy Council of India will hold discussions with the universities in the country to address their concerns with regard to the course and its syllabus, according to PCI president.
PCI has come out with this decision following an inflexible objection raised by the Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) in starting the bridge course in Kerala launched by the Pharmacy Council of India in January 2015, meant for working D. Pharm holders. Though several academic institutions in various states have started the course, no pharmacy college in Kerala could take up any preliminary work for commencing the course despite pressures from working pharmacists for going ahead with the course.
Dr. B. Suresh, president of the pharmacy council of India and also the vice-chancellor of JSS University, Mysore, informed Pharmabiz that PCI would approach the Kerala health university and address their concerns about the bridge course. He said the course has to be implemented in Kerala successfully and the national council would intervene in the matter soon.
“As the concept of blended learning is still new to our country and particularly with professional courses, these challenges do arise and the Pharmacy Council of India does try to clarify these concerns when it comes to its attention. The basis of designing the B Pharm Practice course was to assist the existing pharmacist workforce with diploma qualifications to advance their knowledge, skills and attributes along with a formal qualification so that they can have suitable career progression”, he commented .
He further said the effort is directed towards slowly making pharmacists not only appropriately qualified when compared to the rest of the world but also to ensure that the pharmaceutical care is provided to all patients. This initiative was taken with the view that over a period of time the pharmacists of the country would be qualified with a graduate degree and be able to gain the respect and recognition of the patients and other healthcare professionals.
According to sources from academic community and state pharmacy council, the pharmacy colleges in Kerala are willing to conduct the course, but the health university to which the institutions are affiliated, is not approving the course by saying that it cannot be considered as a regular course like B. Pharm. The vice-chancellor of the university reiterated his stand which he says as the decision of the university that the varsity cannot approve the course though it is recognized by several other universities in other states.
B. Rajan, president of Kerala Pharmacy Council said the Council would approach the university once again with a memorandum signed by all the pharmacy colleges in the state appealing the university to re-think its stand.
Meanwhile the pharmacy education expert, Dr. K G Revikumar, moving one step ahead, said he is preparing to approach the High Court of Kerala to direct the health university to approve the course because. He added the bridge course was officially notified in the Gazette by government of India and the PCI had introduced the course after long deliberations with academic experts, industry captains, university faculties etc. So, a particular university cannot deny approval to the course.
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