Grant of study leave to in-service Diploma pharmacist to undergo Pharm.D course.

 Grant of study leave to in-service Diploma pharmacist to undergo Pharm.D course

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is a statutory body working under the Ministry of Health and F.W., Government of India.  It is constituted under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 to regulate pharmacy education & practice of profession in the country.

The PCI approves pharmacy courses for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist to practice the pharmacy profession.  In 2008, the PCI with the approval of the Ministry of Health & F.W. has introduced Pharm.D. course of 6 years duration.  The Pharm.D. Regulations, 2008 duly notified in the Gazette of India, Part III – Section 4, No.19, dated May 10 – May 16, 2008 are available on Council’s website “www.pci.nic.in”.

salient features of Pharm.D. course :

a)   Pharm.D. is a 6 years course after 10+2 (science academic stream) and 3 years course after B.Pharm.  It is a registrable qualification under the Pharmacy Act.

b)   The Pharm.D. curriculum features an integrated approach to delivery across disciplines and training in essential professional and generic skills and attitudes that are embedded and holistically assessed through an innovative approach to teaching and learning.  Graduates will be optimally equipped to deliver first rate pharmaceutical and healthcare to the society.


c)   The Pharm.D. curriculum integrates four study streams :

•  Drug delivery.
•  Integrated therapeutics.
• Enabling knowledge base.
• Pharmacy practice.

d)   The co-ordination & integration of Pharm.D. students with the Doctors starts at 5th year of the Pharm.D. course itself in the form of clerkship by way of attending ward rounds on daily basis.


e)   During 6th year of Pharm.D. course students are imparted internship/ residency training including positings in speciality units.  Under the supervision of the Doctors, students is taught to provide clinical pharmacy services to the allotted wards as per following details -
        i)    Six months in General Medicine department, and


        ii)   Two months each in any of the following three speciality departments  -
  
             1.   Surgery

2.   Pediatrics

3.   Gynecology  and obstetrics

4.   Psychiatry

5.   Skin and VD

6.   Orthopedics

f)   During the internship, students are given extensive training alongwith health care team comprising of nurses, doctors etc. to ensure health services to the patients as is evident from the objectives of training as laid down under Appendix-C of the Pharm.D. Regulations, 2008, which are as under –
 

           i)    to provide patient care in cooperation with patients, prescribers, and other members of an     interprofessional health care team based upon sound therapeutic principles and evidence-based data, taking into account relevant legal, ethical, social cultural, economic, and professional issues, emerging technologies, and evolving biomedical, pharmaceutical, social or behavioral or administrative, and clinical sciences that may impact therapeutic outcomes.

ii)   to manage and use resources of the health care system, in cooperation with patients, prescribers, other health care providers, and administrative and supportive personnel, to promote health; to provide, assess, and coordinate safe, accurate, and time-sensitive medication distribution; and to improve therapeutic outcomes of medication use.


iii)  to promote health improvement, wellness, and disease prevention in co-operation with patients, communities, at-risk population, and other members of an interprofessional team of health care providers.


iv)  to demonstrate skills in monitoring of the National Health Programmes and schemes, oriented to provide preventive and promotive health care services to the community.


v)   to develop leadership qualities to function effectively as a member of the health care team organised to deliver the health and family welfare services in existing socio-economic, political and cultural environment.


vi)  to communicate effectively with patients and the community.


In this way, Pharm.D. passed out students are well suited to the growing needs of Health care system in our country.


In view of above, it is requested that in-service diploma pharmacists be given an opportunity to upgrade their qualification and skills and granted study leave to undergo Pharm.D. course.  This will help the pharmacists to acquire new skills and utilize it for the betterment of public health.