Pharmacy Council of India

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is the official regulatory authority operating under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It was established in accordance with the Pharmacy Act of 1948, with its inaugural formation taking place on March 4, 1948. Notably, Dr. Montukumar Patel has been elected as the new president of the council.

1. Prescribing the minimum education standards required for pharmacist qualification, as outlined in Section 10 of the Pharmacy Act.

2. Formulating Education Regulations that define the criteria institutions must meet to obtain approval from the PCI for offering pharmacy education, in accordance with Section 10 of the Pharmacy Act.

3. Ensuring consistent application of educational standards nationwide, in line with the provisions of Section 10 of the Pharmacy Act.

4. Conducting inspections of pharmacy institutions seeking approval under the Pharmacy Act to verify their compliance with the specified norms, as stated in Section 16 of the Pharmacy Act.

5. Approving the curriculum and examination processes for aspiring pharmacists, which includes granting approval to academic institutions providing pharmacy courses, as authorized by Section 12 of the Pharmacy Act.

6. Withdrawing approval if an accredited course of study or examination no longer aligns with the educational standards set by the PCI, as authorized by Section 13 of the Pharmacy Act.

7. Granting approval for qualifications obtained outside the regions covered by the Pharmacy Act, which includes recognizing foreign qualifications, as delineated in Section 14 of the Pharmacy Act.

8. Maintaining a Central Register of Pharmacists.