In India, pharmaceutical education is divided into various levels: the Diploma of Pharmacy (D. Pharm) is a two-year program, while the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) is a four-year program. After obtaining a Bachelor's degree, students are eligible for a Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm) in different fields such as Quality Assurance, Pharmacology, and Medicinal Chemistry. There is also a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program, which spans six years and includes an internship in a hospital. Each state has its own competitive examination for admission into pharmacy institutes.
In Maharashtra, the MH-CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test) is the examination based on which pharmacy college admissions are conducted. Seats are allotted to students who score high marks.
After COVID-19, the profession of pharmacy experienced a rise in importance as people understood the critical role of pharmacists. This led to an increase in the number of students opting for pharmacy courses and the establishment of many new institutes. However, a recent study showed that there are many vacant seats for the B. Pharm program. As a result, the Maharashtra government set up a panel within the Directorate of Technical Education, recommending a pause in the approval of new pharmacy colleges. In March, after the third round of the Centralized Admission Process (CAP), 14,523 out of 42,793 B. Pharm and Pharm.D. seats (approximately 33%) were vacant.
In an official notice, the committee stated, "There is an increase in the number of vacancies in pharmacy seats. The committee shall decide on a policy for pharmacy courses for the academic year 2025-26 and beyond." The notice also mentioned that the committee would develop a comprehensive plan for the academic year 2030-31.
The 12-member committee is headed by V.K. Maurya, a retired emeritus professor from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad. The committee has devised a plan for the next five years for pharmaceutical institutes in Maharashtra, with a report to be submitted by July 30.
One member explained how the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) grants permission to establish pharmacy institutes or start new courses. For PCI approval, a college must have a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the state government. If the state government does not provide an NOC, PCI will not approve the college. The committee has been tasked with examining which colleges can be approved and assessing the existing colleges.
In 2023, even after three rounds of CAP counseling, more than 50% of the seats for B. Pharm and D. Pharm programs were vacant.
Some notable vacancy rates include:
85% seats vacant at Shrimati Latatai Baburao Patil Institute Of Pharmacy, Khandgaon, Bendri, affiliated with the state-run Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University (SRTMU)
89% at Ratnadeep College of Pharmacy, Ratnapur, Ahmednagar
64% at Saraswati Institute of Pharmacy, Nanded
70% at D.K. Patil Institute of Pharmacy, affiliated with SRTMU
84% at New Montfort Institute of Pharmacy, Ashti, Ahmadpur
100% vacancy at New College of Pharmacy, Kolhapur
Following the formation of the Directorate of Technical Education, PCI was asked to pause the approval of any new pharmacy institutes in the state.
In July 2019, the Pharmacy Council of India imposed a nationwide moratorium on opening new degree or diploma colleges for five years, but the Supreme Court lifted this moratorium in 2022. In 2022-23, there were 36,228 seats in B. Pharm and D. Pharm courses in Maharashtra, of which 4,503 were vacant.
Major reasons for the vacancy of seats include the late admission process, with 57 new colleges receiving late approval almost at the end of the admission cycle. Despite increased awareness of careers in the pharmaceutical field due to COVID-19, the late admission process and the earlier admissions for engineering courses led many students to opt for engineering instead.
Teachers believe that the actual demand is lower than the supply, with 60,000 students against 42,793 seats. The current issue is that the sudden introduction of new pharmacy colleges does not seem to meet all the requirements.
In the long term, the high vacancy rates in pharmacy programs could lead to several issues. An oversupply of underutilized resources and facilities might strain financial investments, while lower admission standards could compromise the quality of future pharmacists. This mismatch between supply and demand may also deter future investments in pharmacy education, hindering innovation and development in the field. Ensuring a balanced approach to admissions and infrastructure is crucial to maintaining the profession's integrity and meeting healthcare needs.
More colleges are there in respect to the demand, [there is the] issue of supply and demand ratio where there has been an increase in the colleges
A Pharmacy Professor from Yashoda Technical Campus, Satara, Maharashtra
Moreover, the oversaturation of the market with pharmacy graduates may lead to increased unemployment rates among new pharmacists, which can further diminish the profession's appeal. This could potentially result in a cycle where fewer high-quality candidates pursue pharmacy, thereby affecting the overall standard of pharmaceutical services available to the public. The economic implications of maintaining underutilized infrastructure and resources can also burden the educational institutions and the government, diverting funds from other essential areas.
To mitigate these issues, a strategic plan must be implemented, focusing on aligning the number of seats with actual market demand. This could involve periodic assessments of the job market and adjusting the intake capacity of pharmacy programs accordingly. Additionally, enhancing the quality of education through better faculty recruitment, infrastructure improvements, and updated curricula can ensure that graduates are well-prepared for the evolving demands of the healthcare sector.
The involvement of industry stakeholders in the education process can also bridge the gap between academic training and practical application, making graduates more employable. Internship and placement programs should be strengthened to provide students with real-world experience and job opportunities upon graduation.
By addressing these challenges proactively, the pharmacy education system in Maharashtra, and India as a whole, can be optimized to produce a competent and balanced workforce that meets the healthcare needs of the population while ensuring sustainable growth for the sector.
Reference:
1. Maharashtra Institute of Pharmacy (B.Pharm). (n.d.). https://www.mibpharma.org.in/admission.php
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)
