Lok Sabha Question No. 4660 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Quality Education in Pharmacy Sector
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Arun Bharti

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4660 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH MARCH, 2025

## QUALITY EDUCATION IN PHARMACYSECTOR

## 4660. SHRI ARUN BHARTI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to maintain quality of education in the pharmacy sector and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has prescribed staff-student ratio for pharmacy courses and if so, the details of specific provisions made for D. Pharm and B. Pharm courses;
- (c) whether the Government has introduced Aadhaar authentication and a single-window registration system for pharmacists and if so, the benefits thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has established any collaborations with the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) to strengthen medication safety and establish pharma covigilance centres and if so, the details thereof along with the number of pharma co-vigilance centres established; and
- (e) whether the Government is implementing technological advancements in inspection, assessment and rating systems for pharmacy institutions and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) The Central government has taken steps to maintain quality of education in the pharmacy sector. The Pharmacy Council of India which is the regulatory body for pharmacy education/ profession has taken measures to set minimum standard of education required for qualification as a pharmacist, inspection of pharmacy institutions, approval of the course of study and examination for pharmacists and maintain a central register of pharmacists etc.

(b) As per Education Regulation, 2020 of Pharmacy Council of India, Staff to student ratio of D. Pharm Course should not exceed 1:60 in theory classes and 1:20 in practical classes. Pharmacy Council of India has also prescribed the staff to student ratio for B. Pharma Course which should not exceed 1:20 in theory classes and practical classes.

(c) The Aadhaar authentication system was notified on 23.11.2023 and subsequently amended on 21.03.2025 for enhancing transparency, eliminating fake identities and streamline various procedures related to pharmacy profession such as like authentication of the identities of teachers, pharmacists, students registered with PCI and simplification of the administrative process of the institutions.

PCI has developed the Single-window registration system for pharmacists which will be linked with the Student portal to enable students to directly apply in selected State Pharmacy Council for registration.

(d) PCI has collaborated with the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) to strengthen medication safety and established 72 pharma co-vigilance centres across the country.

(e) PCI is implementing technological advancements by embracing the QR code systems in inspection process of the pharmacy institutions and collaborated with the Quality Council of India (QCI) for the assessment and rating system for pharmacy education institutes.

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