The Indian government is taking steps to ensure high-quality education in the pharmacy sector through regulations, technological advancements, and collaborative initiatives. This press release was issued on March 28, 2025.
The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), the regulatory body for pharmacy education and profession, is actively implementing measures to maintain minimum standards of education. These measures include:
- Setting minimum educational standards for pharmacists.
- Inspecting pharmacy institutions.
- Approving courses of study and examinations.
- Maintaining a central register of pharmacists.
To ensure quality instruction, the PCI’s Education Regulation, 2020, mandates specific staff-to-student ratios:
- D.Pharm Course: 1:60 for theory classes and 1:20 for practical classes.
- B.Pharm Course: 1:20 for both theory and practical classes.
To combat fraudulent practices and streamline administrative processes, the government has implemented the Aadhaar authentication system. This system, notified in November 2023 and amended in March 2025, aims to:
- Verify the identities of teachers, pharmacists, and students.
- Eliminate fake identities.
- Simplify institutional administrative processes.
The PCI is developing a single-window registration system for pharmacists, linked with the student portal. This initiative will enable students to directly apply for registration with selected State Pharmacy Councils, simplifying the process.
The PCI has partnered with the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) to enhance medication safety. This collaboration has led to the establishment of 72 pharmacovigilance centers across the country.
The PCI is embracing technological advancements to improve efficiency and transparency:
- QR Code System: QR codes are being implemented in the inspection process of pharmacy institutions for streamlined data collection and verification.
- Quality Council of India (QCI) Collaboration: The PCI is collaborating with the Quality Council of India (QCI) to develop an assessment and rating system for pharmacy education institutes, ensuring quality standards are met.
