NATIONAL
PHARMACY COMMISSION BILL - GOVERNANCE
News:
National Pharmacy
Commission Bill was unveiled
What's
in the news?
●
Recently, the Union Ministry of Health
unveiled the draft National Pharmacy Commission Bill.
Important
features of the bill:
●
National
Pharmacy Commission: The bill proposes to constitute a
commission with its head office in New Delhi.
○
The Commission shall consist of a
Chairperson, 13 ex-officio members and 14 part-time members.
●
Three
boards: The Central Government shall constitute 3 boards
namely the Pharmacy Education Board, the Pharmacy Assessment and Rating Board
and the Pharmacy Ethics and Registration Board, which will function under the
commission.
●
Establishment
of new pharmacy institutions:
○
The bill prohibits the establishment of
new pharmacy institutions or courses without prior permission from the Pharmacy
Assessment and Rating Board.
○
This Board will evaluate and rate pharmacy
institutions and publish assessment documents on its website.
○
Non-compliance with minimum standards may
result in actions such as warnings, penalties, reduced intake, admissions
suspension, or recognition withdrawal.
●
National
Pharmacy Register: According to the draft, the Pharmacy
Ethics and Registration Board will maintain a National Pharmacy Register which
will have details of pharmacy professionals to ensure transparency.
●
Implementation:
○
Every State Government shall, within one
year from the commencement of this Act, constitute a state pharmacy chapter,
where no such state chapter exists in that State by a State Law.
○
This will help in exercising such powers
and discharging such duties as may be laid down under the Act.
●
Periodic
and transparent assessment: The Bill also calls for a periodic
and transparent assessment of pharmacy institutions.
Other
provisions:
●
The Bill also encourages professionals to
integrate the latest research into their work, contribute to research, and
uphold high ethical standards.
●
It establishes an effective grievance
redressal mechanism for relevant matters.
●
The draft bill proposes flexibility to
adapt to changing needs and seeks to set up an effective grievance redressal
mechanism.