B.Pharma graduates in Assam face delays in certification from the Assam Pharmacy Council, leaving them in professional hiatus despite fulfilling academic requirements
GUWAHATI: In Assam, the certification process for B.Pharma graduates has hit a roadblock, leaving students in limbo even after finishing their courses. Many graduates, who completed their pharmacy degrees more than eighteen months ago, are facing distress as they await their crucial registration from the Assam Pharmacy Council (APC). This registration is vital for them to start their careers in pharmacy practice.
The delay has sparked questions and frustrations among students and stakeholders alike. Despite fulfilling all academic requirements and submitting necessary documents, these graduates find themselves unable to obtain their APC registration. This bureaucratic deadlock has left them uncertain about their professional futures and concerned about the lack of clarity regarding their certification status.
The situation has escalated by recent developments in certification policies, including the requirement for an exit exam for B.Pharma graduates. This new mandate, introduced by the Assam Pharmacy Council, has added complexity to the registration process, further delaying approvals for many candidates.
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The question remains: Why are B.Pharma students stuck in uncertainty?
Talking to GPlus, a student who pursued B.Pharma in Assam said, "We completed our pharmacy course more than one and a half years ago, but we still haven't received our APC registration. We have been informing every branch of the Health Department of the Government of Assam for the last one-and-a-half years, but neither the government nor any official has resolved our problem."
Another student expressed similar frustrations, stating, "A few days ago, a suit was filed in the Gauhati High Court against the exit exam that they want to hold on their own. In response, the court stayed the matter, and we have not been registered despite orders to the Assam Pharmacy Council to register us. We applied by submitting all necessary documents a year and a half ago and paid Rs. 6000 to the Assam Pharmacy Council, but they have denied us registration."
The impact of this delay is particularly harsh on middle-class students who have invested significant time and money into their education. "For middle-class people like us, it is very difficult not to get the license. We have spent enough money on this course, but now we have to wait even longer for our license. We urge the government to look into this matter quickly," another student urged.
A reference to the official communication from the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) dated December 22, 2023, clarifies that only Diploma in Pharmacy students who enrolled in 2022 and will graduate in 2024 need to take the exit exam for registration. There was no mention of B.Pharma students in this directive.
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However, on February 28, 2024, Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences (SSUHS)-Assam issued a notification requiring all D.Pharma and B.Pharma students (except those from SSUHS, both private and government) who passed till 2023 to sit for an exit exam to get registration in the Assam Pharmacy Council (APC).
This sudden change has added to the confusion and frustration among the students.
Talking to GPlus, a senior official from Assam Pharmacy Council provided some insight into the situation, "More than 3000 fake pharmacists were detected in Assam, so the Public Health Department decided to conduct exit exams."
The official added, "Students who passed B.Pharma before December 2023 have to register for the exit exam. Only if they pass will they get the registration."
However, the official also noted that the licensing process is currently on hold due to ongoing legal proceedings. "Now the license is on hold because it is a subjudice matter. The issue has gone to Gauhati High Court. Until the court gives a ruling, we cannot do anything, and neither can the government interfere in this matter."
The need for exit exams stems from the discovery of numerous fake certificates. "There are many fake certificates that are caught at times, which has led to the decision to conduct exit exams to maintain transparency."
The official further added, "We have encountered numerous cases where students graduated from other states by paying money to get certificates from certain institutes. These students often can't provide the required documents and lack the necessary knowledge about the course."
The exit examination is now seen as a necessary step to ensure the credibility of pharmacy graduates. "After passing the degree course, a candidate will have to take the exit examination to be eligible for registration of his/her degree with the State Pharmacy Council. An exit examination is a test that pharmacy students must pass to receive their registration certificate as a pharmacist," the official explained.
As the legal and administrative processes continue, students remain in limbo, unable to practice despite their qualifications. The delay not only affects their professional careers but also places additional financial and emotional strain on them and their families.
