1. Historical Evolution of Pharmacy Education & Practice in India
Before the 1940s, pharmacy practice in India was unregulated. Unqualified drug peddlers compounded medications without quality or safety oversight. In 1930, the Government of India appointed the Drugs Enquiry Committee under the chairmanship of Col. R.N. Chopra (Chopra Committee) to investigate adulteration and recommend legislative frameworks. The committee recommended establishing centralized drug testing laboratories, enacting a comprehensive Drugs Act (which became the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940), and setting uniform educational standards. Prof. Mahadeva Lal Schroff (M.L. Schroff), revered as the 'Father of Indian Pharmacy Education', pioneered collegiate pharmacy education by introducing the first 3-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) program at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1937.
The journey from unregulated drug compounding to a regulated clinical profession.
| Statute / Milestone | Year Enacted | Primary Objective | Governing Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs Enquiry Committee | 1930 | Investigate adulteration & recommend drug legislation | Chopra Committee |
| Drugs & Cosmetics Act | 1940 | Regulate import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs | CDSCO / DCGI |
| Pharmacy Act | 1948 | Regulate the profession, qualifications, and registration of pharmacists | State Pharmacy Councils & PCI |
| Pharmacy Council of India | 1949 | Prescribe minimum standards of education required for qualification as a pharmacist | PCI (Govt of India) |
- Father of Indian Pharmacy Education: Prof. M.L. Schroff.
- Chopra Committee (1930): Recommended the Drugs Act and uniform educational standards.
- Pharmacy Act 1948: Statutory legislation passed on 4th March 1948 to regulate the profession and practice of pharmacy in India.
- Pharmacy Council of India (PCI): Apex statutory body responsible for prescribing minimum educational standards (Education Regulations - ER).
भारत में फ़ार्मेसी के जनक प्रो. एम.एल. श्रॉफ हैं जिन्होंने 1937 में BHU में पहला B.Pharm कोर्स शुरू किया। 1948 में फार्मेसी एक्ट बना और 1949 में PCI (Pharmacy Council of India) का गठन हुआ।