Mumbai: The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), the statutory body governing pharmacy education and practice, has announced temporary measures to address challenges faced by students unable to register as pharmacists due to delays in implementing the Diploma in Pharmacy Exit Examination Regulations, 2022.
In a circular issued recently, the PCI stated that students who enrolled in the Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) programme in the 2022-2023 academic session and completed their course in 2023-2024 will be granted temporary registration certificates valid for one year.
This decision comes after numerous students reported difficulties in securing employment, as they were unable to register as pharmacists without clearing the mandatory exit examination.
The temporary registration certificates will allow these students to work as pharmacists for one year, providing them with interim relief. However, the PCI clarified that the certificates would not be renewed unless the students successfully clear the exit examination. Applicants must also submit an affidavit in a prescribed format to the Registrar of their respective State Pharmacy Council, acknowledging the terms of this temporary registration.
The decision came after the PCI had proposed an amendment to the regulations, seeking to reduce the number of examination papers from three to one to alleviate the financial burden on students. While this amendment was submitted to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) for approval, the ministry’s decision is still awaited. The Council has assured students that it is actively pursuing the matter to expedite the process.
“PCI vide various communications to wrote Ministry for approval of the proposed amendment in regulation 6 of "Diploma in pharmacy Exit Examination Regulations 2022" as required u/s10 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 for publication in the Gazette of India so that the one paper can be conducted instead of three papers to avoid financial burden on the students. The approval of the Ministry is yet awaited,” said PCI Registrar-cum-Secretary Anti Mittal.
This directive, approved by the competent authority, aims to provide immediate relief to affected students while ensuring they meet the regulatory requirements in due course.
