New Delhi: The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has asked the State Pharmacy Councils to strictly comply with the regulations related to the qualifications while appointing registrar in their respective Councils.
The PCI, in an office memorandum, said it has observed that some of the State Pharmacy Councils are appointing registrar without any pharmacy qualification and are violating Chapter III of the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
“All the State Pharmacy Councils are directed to appoint a Registrar who should be a registered pharmacist with a valid Pharmacist registration,” said Anil Mittal, registrar-cum-secretary, PCI in the OM.
The qualification in order of preference shall be in such a way that the first preference should be to the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) from an institution approved under Section 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the second preference should be to those with Diploma of Pharmacy (D.Pharm) from an institution approved under Section 12 of the Pharmacy Act. Section 12 states that the institutions which conduct pharmacy course are approved by Central Council, in conformity with the regulations.
The direction is to ensure that the operations of the State Councils are managed by a person qualified in the field. This is expected to help in ease of managing the works of the State Councils and identify, understand and address the issues related to the field at the early instance itself.
Chapter III of the Pharmacy Act deals with the regulations related to the State Pharmacy Councils, including constitution and composition of State Councils, incorporation of State Councils, inter-state agreements, composition of Joint State Councils, among others.
It may be noted that the PCI has in May communicated to all State Pharmacy Councils regarding standardisation of qualifications and appointment process for registrars of State Councils, and suggested to add Pharm.D as a valid qualification to become a registrar in the State Councils, along with the present qualifications of B Pharm and D Pharm.
The PCI in its executive committee meeting in February, also suggested framing recruitment rules for appointment of registrars in State Pharmacy Councils.
It has also invited attention of the State Councils regarding the relevant circulars issued by the PCI in the past regarding the appointment of the registrar.
The Council, in 1997, informed the State Councils that its meeting has decided that the Registrar of the State Pharmacy Council should be registered pharmacist, and the qualification of the registered pharmacist, in order of preference shall be so that the first preference should be given to B.Pharm and the second preference to D.Pharm holders.
The Section 26 of the Pharmacy Act, while detailing the provisions for recruitment of staff in the State Councils, and their remuneration and allowances, stipulates that the appointment of registrar is the responsibility of the State Pharmacy Councils.
According to the Section, the State Council may, with the previous sanction of the state government, appoint a Registrar who shall also act as Secretary and, if so decided by the State Council, Treasurer, of the State Council.
The State Council may appoint such other officers and servants as may be required to enable it to carry out its functions under the Act, and fix the salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of the Secretary and other officers and servants of the State Council.
It may also fix the rates of allowances payable to members of the State Council.
However, it also has a provision that for the first four years from the first constitution of the State Council, the Registrar shall be a person appointed by the state government, who shall hold office during the pleasure of the state government.
