NEWS – Union health ministry releases draft National Pharmacy Commission Bill, 2023

WHAT BILL PROPOSES

• Setting up the National Pharmacy Commission and stipulates procedures to select the chairperson, 13 ex officio members and 14 part-time members
• Function of the commission: Take all such steps as it may think fit for ensuring coordinated and integrated development of pharmacy education and maintenance of the standards of delivery of services, with periodic revisions, as may be specified by regulations
• Proposes a uniform mechanism for admission into the pharmacy institutions at various levels
• Central government will also constitute three Boards – the Pharmacy Education Board, the Pharmacy Assessment and Rating Board, and the Pharmacy Ethics and Registration Board – with not more than two whole time members and not more than two part-time members other than a President
• The state governments shall within one year from the commencement of the Act, constitute a State Pharmacy Chapter with a Chairperson, four ex officio members and three part-time members
• Repeal the Pharmacy Act, 1948
• Aim: Provide for a pharmacy education system that improves access to quality and affordable pharmacy or pharmaceutical education, ensures availability of adequate and high-quality pharmacy professionals in all parts of the country
• Objective: periodic and transparent assessment of pharmacy institutions and facilitates maintenance of a pharmacy register for India and enforces high ethical standards in all aspects of pharmacy services, among others