The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has officially declared March 6th as “National Pharmacy Education Day. This notice was issued on February 14, 2025.
Professor M.L. Schroff
This day commemorates the birth anniversary of the esteemed Professor M.L. Schroff. He was a visionary and pioneer and is credited with establishing the foundation of pharmaceutical education in India. His dedication, foresight, and patriotic spirit led to the introduction of the first full-fledged three-year Bachelor of Pharmacy course at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1937.
Recognizing his immense contributions, the PCI celebrated Professor Schroff’s 121st birth anniversary as “Pharma Anveshan 2023” on March 6th, 2023, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Building on this momentum, the PCI has now formalized March 6 as an annual day of national recognition.
2025 Theme
This year’s “National Pharmacy Education Day,” to be observed on March 6th, 2025, will focus on the theme “Entrepreneurship & Startups in Pharma and Pharmacy Practice: Encouraging Innovation, Incubation Centers and Pharmaceutical Startups,” under the banner of “Pharma Anveshan 2025.“
The PCI urges all pharmacy institutions across the country to actively participate in celebrating this day. Institutions are encouraged to:
- Conduct a dedicated program on March 6, 2025.
- Invite at least 100 industry experts to gather insights on the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020.
- Invite at least one Central Council member of the PCI.
To support these celebrations, the PCI will provide financial assistance of Rs. 2 lakh per selected institution. Institutions intending to conduct programs are required to submit a letter of interest by February 20th, 2025, through the google doc link.
Financial assistance will be disbursed after the program’s completion, subject to the submission of a utilization certificate, a brief report, attendance records, and photographic evidence.
This initiative aims to reinforce the importance of pharmaceutical education and to foster a spirit of innovation within the industry, ensuring the continued growth and development of the pharmacy profession in India.
