Government sanctions Rs 100 crore to upgrade pharmacy colleges

The Union Health Ministry has sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the upgradation of government pharmacy colleges in the country. The ministry will soon allocate the amount in installments to the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) for effective utilisation of the fund.

The fund, allotted under the 11th five-year plan as per the proposal submitted by the PCI in last December, will be utilised to upgrade the infrastructure of government pharmacy colleges across the country. The PCI will also use the fund to conduct continuing education programmes for pharmacists and teachers in the colleges to enhance the quality of education in pharmacy colleges, informed Dr B Suresh, president, PCI.

"We are expecting the fund to be flowing from January next year. The fund will be used for upgrading the infrastructure of colleges. We have also submitted a proposal for Rs 135 crore as fund for upgradation of qualification of pharmacists to the ministry lately. The ministry responded that it is being favourably considered, but we think that it will take some time for allotment in the present scenario," added Dr Suresh.

The Rs 135 crore-fund programme is proposed to enhance the knowledge and ability of diploma pharmacists according to the current demands of the sector and provide financial support for pharmacy students in the form of fellowships and stipends. Once allotted, the fund will be used to conduct short programmes for upgrading the educational standards of diploma pharmacists to match standards with the latest curriculum in pharmacy.

"The fund will help the students to pursue higher studies, which otherwise would be difficult for them to afford. The support system for diploma pharmacists is intended to upgrade the quality of pharmacy services and to make them enable to compete with the pharmacists who have completed other advanced courses," said Dr Suresh.