Inspection of pharmacy schools on the cards

Islamabad: There is a likelihood of the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (PCP) constituting a pool of inspectors for scrutiny of pharmacy institutes in Pakistan as a prelude to halting the mushroom growth of pharmacy schools on the one hand, and improving the standard of pharmacy education on the other.

Prospects for such a move were deliberated on the call of Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar during a PCP meeting chaired by Director General Health and president of the council Dr. Assad Hafeez.

A number of vital decisions were taken during the meeting including deferment and rejection of six institutes for Pharm.D programme in Pakistan. The Council issued No-Objection Certificate to Barrett Hodgson University, Karachi, and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Deewan University, Karachi, for initiating Pharm.D programme. On the same grounds, the Council deferred and rejected 9 requests for pharmacy technician programmes and approved 23 colleges for offering the course in Pakistan.

Strict regulatory monitoring of institutions imparting pharmacy education, revision of pharmacy curriculum in conformity with international standards, drafting of a roadmap to build the professional status of pharmacists and amendments in Pharmacy Act 1967 were other key areas that were debated.

Saira Afzal appreciated the council for introduction of self-assessment inspection proformas as a step to promote transparency. She reiterated support for uplifting the pharmacy profession, and advised the council to switch over to automation of registration processes to expedite delivery of registration certificates.

Dr Assad assured that the council would use all possible means to promote pharmacy education and to build the capacity of pharmacists. PCP is a regulatory body established under Pharmacy Act 1967 to regulate pharmacy practice and education by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Its mandate is to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and public who use pharmaceutical services in Pakistan.