Why the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) was formed — History & role
After India’s independence, the government wanted to improve the quality of healthcare and pharmacy education in the country. At that time there were no fixed standards for teaching pharmacy — each state followed its own methods and anyone could open a pharmacy without proper training. These conditions led to unsafe practices and poor-quality medicines being sold to the public.
To control this situation, the government passed the Pharmacy Act, 1948, which aimed to regulate the education and profession of pharmacy in India. Under this Act, the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) was established in 1949 at the national level. The main purpose of the PCI was to set uniform standards of pharmacy education, approve pharmacy institutions, and register qualified pharmacists who can safely handle medicines.
Over time, the PCI became the central authority ensuring that pharmacists are properly trained, ethical, and knowledgeable about drug laws and patient care. It works closely with State Pharmacy Councils, which handle pharmacist registration at the state level, while the PCI focuses on education, quality control, and national regulations.
Today, the PCI plays a vital role in protecting public health by ensuring that only qualified and competent pharmacists serve in India’s healthcare system.
Key functions of PCI
- Set and maintain uniform standards of pharmacy education across India.
- Approve and periodically inspect pharmacy institutions and courses.
- Frame standards of professional conduct and ethics for pharmacists.
- Collaborate with State Pharmacy Councils for registration and enforcement.
- Safeguard public health by promoting competent pharmaceutical practice.
How the State Pharmacy Council Came into Existence
When the Pharmacy Act, 1948 was introduced, it created a two-tier system to regulate pharmacy in India: the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) at the national level and State Pharmacy Councils (SPCs) at the state level. While PCI was tasked with framing uniform educational standards, the SPCs were established to manage registration and regulation of pharmacists locally.
Prior to this reform there was no reliable record of who was a qualified pharmacist — anyone could sell or dispense medicines without training. That led to dangerous dispensing errors, misuse of drugs, and harm to patients. The State Pharmacy Councils were therefore created to ensure that only properly qualified and registered pharmacists could legally practice in each state.
How SPCs are formed
- The State Government constitutes the State Pharmacy Council under provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
- Each SPC maintains a register of licensed pharmacists within that state and issues or renews registrations.
- SPCs coordinate with PCI to ensure educational and professional standards are implemented locally.
Primary roles of a State Pharmacy Council
- Maintain and update the state register of pharmacists (licensing and renewal).
- Verify qualifications and ensure only eligible persons obtain registration.
- Investigate complaints, take disciplinary action for professional misconduct, and enforce pharmacy laws at the state level.
- Act as the local regulatory link between pharmacists, the State Government, and the PCI.
- Promote ethical practice and protect public health within the state.
In short, SPCs make the national standards practical and enforceable at the state level — ensuring pharmacists are tracked, accountable, and competent to dispense medicines safely to the public.
How the Joint State Pharmacy Council Came into Existence
In some regions, two or more smaller states faced challenges in maintaining separate State Pharmacy Councils due to limited resources or fewer pharmacists. To address this, the government allowed the formation of a Joint State Pharmacy Council (JSPC), which could serve multiple states collectively.
The JSPC shares administrative responsibilities such as registering pharmacists, monitoring ethical practice, and enforcing pharmacy laws, while still following the Pharmacy Act, 1948. This system allows smaller states to maintain high standards of pharmacy practice efficiently without overburdening resources.
Functioning and Coordination
- JSPCs operate under the governments of the participating states.
- They coordinate closely with the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) to ensure all pharmacists are qualified and registered.
- They oversee ethical practice and take disciplinary action against unregistered or unethical pharmacists across the member states.
- Administrative duties such as record-keeping, licensing, and monitoring are shared among the participating states.
In short, the JSPC ensures that even regions with fewer resources can uphold professional, legal, and ethical standards in pharmacy, protecting public health across multiple states efficiently.
| Aspect | Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) | State Pharmacy Council (SPC) | Joint State Pharmacy Council (JSPC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Authority | National Level | State Level | State Level |
| Governing Body | Central Government | State Government | State Government |
| Scope of Authority | Sets standards for pharmacy education & practice | Registers pharmacists in the respective state | Registers pharmacists in multiple states |
| Membership | Elected members | Elected members | Elected members |
| Composition | Appointed by the Government | Appointed by the Government | Appointed by the Government |
| Function | Regulate pharmacy education and practice | Regulate pharmacy education and practice | Regulate pharmacy education and practice |
| Recognition of Colleges | Grants approval and recognition to pharmacy colleges | — | — |
| Pharmacist Registration | Registers pharmacists at the national level | Registers pharmacists in the respective state | Registers pharmacists in multiple states |
| Examination Conducted | National level examinations (e.g., NIPER-JEE, GPAT) | State level examinations (e.g., State Pharmacy Council Exam) | State level examinations (e.g., State Pharmacy Council Exam) |
| Code of Ethics | Prescribes the code of ethics for pharmacists | Prescribes the code of ethics for pharmacists | Prescribes the code of ethics for pharmacists |
| Professional Guidance | Provides guidance on professional matters | Provides guidance on professional matters | Provides guidance on professional matters |
| Complaints & Disciplinary Action | Handles complaints and disciplinary actions against pharmacists | Handles complaints and disciplinary actions against pharmacists in the respective state | Handles complaints and disciplinary actions against pharmacists in multiple states |
