New Delhi: The proposed National Pharmacy Commission Bill, 2023 is proposing setting up of an advisory body known as Pharmacy Advisory Council to advise the National Pharmacy Commission (NPC) and to act as a primary platform through which the States and Union Territories can communicate their views and concerns before the Commission.

The draft Bill proposes to constitute the Advisory council, which shall advise the Commission on measures to determine and maintain, and to co-ordinate maintenance of the minimum standards in all matters relating to pharmacy education, services, training and research.

“The Advisory Council shall be the primary platform through which the States and Union territories may put forth their views and concerns before the Commission and help in shaping the overall agenda, policy and action relating to pharmacy education, services, training and research,” said the draft Bill.

It shall also advise the Commission on measures to enhance equitable access to pharmacy education, services, training and research. The Council is mandated to meet at least twice a year at such time and place as decided by its Chairperson.

The Chairperson of the Commission shall be the ex officio chairperson of the Advisory Council. The other ex officio members include the Presidents of the three Boards under the Commission, Secretary of the Commission, one officer not below the rank of joint secretary representing the Ministry of Ayush, the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission or the Higher Education Commission of India, the Director of National Assessment and Accreditation Council, one representative from the Indian Council of Medical Research not below the rank of Additional Director General, two Directors to represent the Indian Institute of Technology, the Indian Institute of Management and the Indian Institute of Science and one Director to represent the NIPER to be nominated by the Central government.

One person to represent each State and Union territory who shall be a head of the institution or vice chancellor or dean of a pharmacy institution in that State or Union Territory are to be nominated by the state government or by the ministry of home affairs, Government of India in the case of Union territory, as part time members.

Besides, the head of any of the national level professional pharmacy associations to be nominated by the Central government shall be a part time member in the Council. The Part time members shall hold office for a term not exceeding two years.

Unless the procedure is otherwise provided by regulations, fifty percent of the Members of the Advisory Council including the Chairperson shall form the quorum and all acts of the Advisory Council shall be decided by a majority of the Members present and voting.

The ministry of health and family welfare has released the draft National Pharmacy Commission Bill, 2023 through a pubic notice dated November 10, 2023, repealing the Pharmacy Act, 1948 and replacing the existing statutory body of Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) with the National Pharmacy Commission.