PCI urges Centre not to allow unqualified pharmacy owners register with state pharmacy councils

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Tuesday, August 13, 2013, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

The Central Committee meeting of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) held in Ootty unanimously passed a resolution opposing the demand raised by the All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) to permit unqualified proprietors of medical store to dispense medicine.

PCI also decided to request the Central government not to consider the trade organisation’s demand for permitting the partners/ proprietors of a drug store as a qualified person to dispense medicines considering their experience. The Council felt that grant of registration for the traders with state pharmacy councils was against the Pharmacy Act and would create problems in the pharmacy profession.

A Guide for Foreign Pharmacists to Become Licensed in the United States

A foreign pharmacy graduate is a pharmacist whose undergraduate pharmacy degree was conferred by a recognized school of pharmacy outside of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. This definition is regardless of whether you are a US citizen, permanent resident (green card holder) or an illegal immigrant.

CLINICAL PHARMACY--Pharm.D IV year Notes

1.	Definitions, development and scope of clinical pharmacy
2.	Introduction to daily activities of a clinical pharmacist a.     Drug therapy monitoring (medication chart review, clinical review, pharmacist interventions) b.     Ward round participation c.     Adverse drug reaction management d.     Drug information and poisons information e.     Medication history f.     Patient counseling g.     Drug utilisation evaluation (DUE) and review (DUR) h.     Quality assurance of clinical pharmacy services.  h.     Quality assurance of clinical pharmacy services.--version 2
3.	Patient data analysis The patient's case history, its structure and use in evaluation of drug therapy & Understanding common medical abbreviations and terminologies used in clinical practices.
4.	Clinical laboratory tests used in the evaluation of disease states, and interpretation of test results a.         Haematological, Liver function, Renal function, thyroid function tests b.         Tests associated with cardiac disorders c.         Fluid and electrolyte balance d.         Microbiological culture sensitivity tests e.         Pulmonary Function Tests
5.	Drug & Poison information
	a.         Introduction to drug information resources available b.         Systematic approach in answering DI queries c.         Critical evaluation of drug information and literature d.         Preparation of written and verbal reports e.         Establishing a Drug Information Centre f.          Poisons information- organization & information resources
6.	Pharmacovigilance a.    Scope, definition and aims of pharmacovigilance b.   Adverse drug reactions - Classification, mechanism, predisposing factors, causality assessment [different scales used] c.   Reporting, evaluation, monitoring, preventing & management of ADRs d.   Role of pharmacist in management of ADR.
7.	Communication skills, including patient counselling techniques, medication history interview, presentation of cases.
8.	Pharmaceutical care concepts
9.	Critical evaluation of biomedical literature
10.	Medication errors

Pharmacist to assist patients at CMCH

The Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) has posted a pharmacist at the outpatient ward to advise patients on the dosage and at what time they have to take medicines.

According to Deputy Medical Superintendent of CMCH Isaac Christian Moses, more than 6,000 outpatients get over 150 different drugs from the CMCH every day. However, despite a doctor’s briefing during the examination, many of them may have doubts on how to take the prescribed drugs.

In order to assist such patients, a pharmacist has been posted since last week, with a signboard nearby that advises patients to seek his guidance.

With the drugs sourced by the State-run Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation having their names printed in both Tamil and English, the pharmacist said that it was relatively easy to explain to the patients.

Fee structure for B. Pharmacy, B. Architecture and Pharm. D courses for the academic years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16--AP

GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

ABSTRACT 

HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT – The Andhra Pradesh Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee for Professional Courses offered in Private Un-aided Professional Institutions Rules, 2006 – Fixation of Fee structure for B. Pharmacy, B. Architecture and Pharm. D courses in Private Un-aided Institutes in the State for the academic years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 -Notification – Issued.

HIGHER EDUCATION (EC/A2) DEPARTMENT

G.O.Ms.No.                                                              Dated:18-07-2013.  

                                                                              Read the following:-

Change in the examination pattern of Pharm.D--KUHS

KERALA UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

THRISSUR – 680 596

NOTIFICATION

No: 0275/AC II/BoS/2012(pharm)                                                                                          Dated: 09/07/2013

Ref: - 1. Minutes of meeting of BoS P.G. Pharmaceutical Science dated 30.7.2012.

          2. Decision No: 3.11 of the minutes of 3rd meeting of the Academic Council 15/11/2012.

Principals of all Pharmacy colleges affiliated to KUHS  conducting Pharm D courses are hereby informed that the meeting of BoS P.G. Pharmaceutical Science held on 30.7.2012 has decided to change the pattern of question paper for all Pharm D Examinations scheduled from August 2013 onwards. The decision of the Board of studies was approved by the 3rd meeting of the Academic Council. The main change in the examination pattern is that  the 22 question format has been changed to 11 question format. There is no change in the total marks. The Changes shall be intimated to all students of Pharm D course.

PHARM.D V YEAR JNTU QUESTION PAPERS

Academics concerned about future of Pharm D and scope of its job opportunities

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai 
Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]
With just a few weeks to commence the next batch of Pharm D course in the recognised colleges in India and the college managements are making a last ditch effort to woo students for admissions, senior academicians are concerned about the future of the course and scope of job opportunities for the degree holders.

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) had introduced Pharm D course as an educational reform to match global standards, but critics are of the opinion that the course will not seem to match the claim. The course was started in 2008 giving much expectation to students of pharmacy in India, especially the aspiring pharmacists who were targeted for the six-year course and the B Pharm graduates to the lateral entry for the three-year post baccalaureate course.

Giving a warning to the aspirants of the course, the faculty members who have thorough knowledge about the various courses such as D Pharm, B Pharm and M Pharm are advising the students to opt for degree course suitable to Indian scenario rather than dreaming of western opportunities.

PharmD Students need to Develop Confidence and humility

During our PharmD training, we are expected to develop many skills. We often find ourselves pushing the limits of our individual comfort zones, attempting procedures and tasks that we have less than mastered. And to deal with these potentially anxiety provoking situations, our pharmacy culture teaches us to develop our self-confidence, and to do it quickly. In doing so, we move beyond our insecurities, with the hope that those around us—our patients, in particular—will feel assured in our capabilities. There is, however, a danger in this pursuit.

PCI to come down heavily on colleges which lack required faculty & infrastructure

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has decided to come down heavily on pharmacy colleges if they do not have the required faculty and the infrastructure to conduct B Pharm and M Pharm courses. All pharmacy colleges will need to strictly comply with these norms of 10 labs with required equipments, four classrooms and 24 faculty.

The Council insists on strict compliance to regulations by insisting on appointment of senior faculty, organise QIP workshops and training programmes for younger faculty, monitor the mobility of faculty by uploading their service details on PCI website and recommend Government/ UGC/AICTE pay scales.

To keep tab on the faculty experience, PCI would shortly upload the complete profile of the teachers accessible only to the regulatory authority and colleges to track their movement, create transparency and strict monitoring of their experience.