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Abstract: In the history of mankind, social
development has always been closely interlinked with
healthcare achievements. Therefore pharmacy education
and practice has a significant impact on the health
improvements of a nation. Pharmacists represent the
third largest healthcare professional group in the
world. Pharmacists work in the community, in hospitals,
and in other medical facilities as members of the health
care team and have special responsibilities for the safe
use of medicines. In developed nations, in addition to
traditional dispensing, pharmacists monitor the health
and progress of patients in response to drug therapy and
provide patient care that focuses on prevention of
diseases and patient outcomes, and accordingly
educational curriculum is designed.
In India, like in many Asian countries, pharmacists are
the most accessible healthcare professionals and also
play an important role in the use of medicines. Formal
pharmacy education in India started (B. Pharm. in BHU in
1937) long before the enactment of Pharmacy Act, 1948
and the formulation of the Education Regulations in the
year 1953. India has made rapid progress in pharmacy
education over the last two decades. This paper seeks to
sketch the status of pharmacy practice in India
vis-à-vis pharmacy education, standards of education,
and changes are being undertaken, and then pay
particular attention to the need for required actions to
strengthen the curriculum and the profession.
Sixty years ago, there were no restrictions on the
practice of pharmacy in India. The practice of
prescribing and dispensing was an integral unit
performed by doctors. In addition, most doctors trained
their clinic assistants to dispense medicines and assist
in compounding of medicinal preparations. The assistants
were popularly known as "compounders." Persons, having
experience of working with physician who could read a
prescription and could assist in compounding and
dispensing, were allowed to work in pharmacy settings.
As in the case of many Asian countries, pharmacy
practice profession in India, therefore, developed from
the concept of extemporaneous preparations and selling
of medicines.
The pharmacy practice concept was realized with the dawn
of independence in 1947. The Pharmacy Act,1 1948 was the
first landmark, which came into existence in response to
recommendations of Drugs Enquiry Committee2 (Chopra
committee) constituted in 1930, and report of Health
Survey and Development Committee, 1943 (Bhore
committee).The Chopra committee in its report
recommended among others setting up of courses for
training in pharmacy and prescribing minimum
qualifications for registration as a pharmacist. The
Bhore committee emphasized the need of government to
control practice of pharmacy and provide educational
facilities for licentiate pharmacists.
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