M A I N   N E W S

GND University B. Pharm denied recognition
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 6 — The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has refused to give recognition to the B.Pharmacy course being run in Guru Nanak Dev University for the past about five years.

The PCI has said recognition could not be given unless the university fulfilled the necessary requirements, including appointment of a head with pharmaceutical background. The university, however, has appointed a head from the field of applied chemistry and that too on rotation basis.

Without the recognition of the PCI, students could not procure a licence to run a chemist shop. Neither can they get the job of a pharmacist. The students without PCI recognition cannot go abroad for higher studies.

However, Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor, said the course of B.Tech was “legal” and had recognition from the Council of Technical Education. He, however, said to fulfil the requirements of the PCI the university had already prepared a case for the appointment of the department head with pharmaceutical background. The case had been forwarded to the finance committee of the university for approval of the new head. Dr Soch said approval in this regard would be procured within a month.

Dr T.S. Bainipal, Head of the Department, said there were 120 students in the B. Pharmacy course. The department was opened in 1995. He said recognition by the PCI was likely to be granted shortly.