Pharmacy Council of India regulates the Pharmacy education and profession in India up to graduate level. It’s a statutory body governed by the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 passed by the parliament.
The act came into practice on 4th March 1948 which defined “An act of regulation for the pharmacy profession. Constituting of Pharmacy council for the convenience of making better provision for the regulation of the profession and practice of pharmacy and for that purpose. PCI was constituted on 9th August 1949 under section 3 of the Pharmacy Act.
The motto and objective of Regulation of the Pharmacy Education in the country are for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act and also for the Regulation of Profession and Practice of Pharmacy.
There are certain functions and duties under this act that are mentioned below:-
1. The minimum standard of education required for qualifying as a pharmacist Prescription. (Ref.: section 10 of the Pharmacy Act)
2. Framing the Education Regulations along with the prescribing of the conditions to be fulfilled by the institutions seeking approval of the PCI for imparting education in pharmacy (Ref.: section10 of the Pharmacy Act)
3. Following and ensuring uniform implementation of the Pharmacy education standards throughout the country.
4. Approval will be granted with the regular inspection under the Pharmacy Act verifying the availability of the prescribed norms.
5. The course of study and pharmacist examination must be approved and academic training institutions providing pharmacy courses.
6. Approved courses by PCI only should be offered with the educational standards prescribed by the PCI otherwise accreditation will be withdrawn.
7. Maintaining the central register of Pharmacists