Last Updated on June 29, 2024 by The Health Master
Pharmacy
The upcoming Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC) in Hyderabad from July 5th onwards could be a turning point for pharmacy graduates aspiring for civil service careers.
Dr. T.V. Narayana, president of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), is set to present a resolution demanding the inclusion of pharmaceutical sciences as an optional subject in the civil service examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
A Long-Standing Demand
This is not the first time the IPC has addressed this issue.
Dr. Narayana highlights that the pharmacy community has been advocating for this change for over 25 years.
The number of pharmacy professionals in India is growing steadily, with over 3,000 institutions offering B.Pharm, Pharm.D, and Ph.D. programs regulated by the Pharmacy Council of India.
However, these graduates are currently at a disadvantage when it comes to the UPSC exams, as they cannot choose their field of study as an optional subject.
Related news: Hyderabad Gears Up for 73rd IPC to be held from July 5 to 7, 202
Leveling the Playing Field
Dr. Narayana emphasizes the inconsistency in the current system.
Engineering and medical sciences are already included as optional subjects, but pharmaceutical sciences remain excluded.
This limits the opportunities for qualified pharmacy graduates who could potentially make valuable contributions to the civil service.
He cites examples of pharmacy graduates who have cleared the IAS exam by opting for unrelated subjects like sociology or history.
Beyond Civil Services: The Patent Examiner Conundrum
Dr. Subhash Mondal, chairman of the IPA’s regulatory affairs division, points out a similar issue with the examinations for selecting patent examiners.
Despite the large number of pharmaceutical patent applications in India, pharmacy is not included among the thirteen subjects considered for these exams.
This, according to Dr. Mondal, hinders the effective evaluation of pharmaceutical patents due to a lack of expertise within the system.
A Call for Recognition
The IPA believes that including pharmacy as an optional subject in both the civil service exams and the patent examiner exams would be a significant step forward for the profession.
Dr. Mondal argues that India’s bureaucratic system often overlooks the expertise of “technocrats” like pharmacists, leading to suboptimal decision-making in pharmaceutical matters.
The inclusion of pharmacy in these crucial examinations would not only provide more opportunities for pharmacy graduates but also ensure a more informed and effective system.
The IPC session on Dr. Narayana’s resolution is expected to be a major highlight of the congress.
With growing support within the pharmacy community, this renewed push for recognition could finally see pharmaceutical sciences take its rightful place among the optional subjects for India’s prestigious civil service examinations.
Disclaimer: This article contains information derived from the source mentioned below. Our team utilized an AI language model to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.
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