Historical development of the pharmacy profession in India

History of the Profession of Pharmacy in India in Relation to Pharmacy Education

Pharmacy is the art, science, and practice of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medicines. The pharmacy profession and its education in India have existed since ancient times. In 1990 American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) defined pharmacy as

“Pharmacy is a patient-oriented health service that applies a scientific body of knowledge to improve and promote health through assurance of safety and efficacy in drug usage and drug-related therapy”

The following is a brief history of pharmacy profession education in India.

Ancient India: The pharmacy profession in India has ancient roots in herbal medicines and Ayurvedic systems. Traditional knowledge of plants and their preparations was passed down through generations. Ayurveda is one part of the Upa-Vedas- a subsection of the Atharva Veda. Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Vaghbata were the main contributors to Ayurveda.

Islamic Influence: Islamic influence on India introduced the Unani System to treat disease

British Colonial Era: British colonial rule in India had a major impact on pharmacy education in India. The following points explain the history of pharmacy during the British Colonial Era.

1. On 11th August 1930, the British Government of India constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Col R N Copra to look into the pharmacy profession in India and recommend measures to improve it.

2. Professor M L Schroff (Prof Mahavdev Lal Schroff) started pharmacy education at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1937. He introduced pharmaceutical chemistry as one subject in the B.Sc. course. Later, he proposed a two years B. Sc. Course that includes pharmaceutical chemistry. Pharmacy and pharmacognosy. Then it was converted to a Three Years B. Pharm course at BHU.

3. In 1940, Professor M L Schroff (Prof Mahvdev Lal Schroff) started M. Pharm course at BHU. He left BHU, and Joined Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani (BITS, Pilani). He introduced pharmacy education in BITS Pilani also.

4. He helped to establish a pharmacy department at Jadavpur University Calcutta in 1964.

5. He also established the United Province Pharmaceutical Association in 1935. Nowadays, it is known as the Indian Pharmaceutical Association. In 1939, Professor M L Schroff started to publish. Indian Journal of Pharmacy. Professor M L Schroff (Prof Mahavdev Lal Schroff) was born on 6th March 1902 in Darbhanga, Bihar. He is the Father of Pharmacy in India.

6. In 1944, a B. Pharm. course was started at Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan. After independence, it was shifted to Chandigarh. The pharmacy institute at BHU was industry-oriented while the Pharmacy institute at PU, Lahore was compounding and dispensing-oriented.

7. In 1874, A chemists and druggists course was started at Madras Medical College. In 1898 a separate department of chemists and druggists was started. In 1939, a 2-year B.Sc. The pharmacy course was started at Madras Medical College with the help of Prof. ML Schroff. In 1946, a separate dept of pharmaceutics was started in the Madras Medical College. In 1950 the Madras Medical College started a 3-year B. Pharm. course.

8. In 1842, Certificate level Pharmacy education was started in Goa by the Portuguese. Goa was not part of the British colony.

Post Independent: The Government of India framed the Pharmacy Act 1948 to regulate pharmacy education and profession in India. In 1949 first Pharmacy Council of India was constituted to maintain quality in pharmacy education in India. Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) regulates institutions offering D. Pharm, B. Pharm, M. Pharm, and Pharm D

Author: Alok Bains