Current Edition

Pharmaceutical Education in India: Past, Present and Future

Pharmacy as a profession started in India in the early 20th Century. Since then, it has undergone many changes educationally and professionally. Unfortunately, pharmacists in India have been reduced to selling medicines, unlike the West, where the pharmacist is responsible for dispensing medicines prescribed by the physician, and advising patients about their judicious administration. To be at par with their Western counterparts, the Indian educational and pharmacy practicing standards require extensive revision. This change would enhance the profile of pharmacists and enable them to be an integral part of the healthcare system. In the future, innovations in the discovery and development of newer drugs and dosage forms will be used and personalised pharmacotherapy will be propagated. The future pharmacist has to be aware of these developments to advise the physician and the patient and to be a competent partner in the health care team. Simultaneously, the drug regulatory authorities in India and medical professionals have to recognise the contribution of the pharmacist to society. Only then will the noble pharmacy profession be able to reach the level of greatness it deserves.