|
Breaking a four-month period of public silence and alleged 'hibernation' following reports of his removal from the post of PCI president by the Union health ministry, former president of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Dr Montu Kumar Patel, attended a crucial PCI-organized technical session online.
The session, a one-day workshop focused on the New NEP B.Pharm syllabus and the Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), was hosted by the Institute of Pharmacy, Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) in Guwahati.
Sources from the college informed Pharmabiz that Dr. Patel came online during the afternoon technical session, greeting the program and speaking on the new syllabus and AEBAS implementation. Crucially, the college confirmed to Pharmabiz that he attended the event as the PCI president and utilized the official virtual meeting link provided solely by the PCI office, suggesting continued access to official council resources despite the controversy.
Dr. Patel's online presence stands in sharp contrast to the Union ministry of health and family welfare's order issued in September third week, which had formally removed him from the PCI president position. The removal followed investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) since July on allegations of criminal misconduct, bribery, and approving colleges despite non-compliance. The Ministry's order also directed the Central Council to hold fresh elections within three months, naming vice-president Jashubhai Hirabhai Chaudhari to serve as the interim president.
According to sources, there was an unconfirmed report that he had obtained a court stay order against his removal, highlighting the ongoing legal and administrative battle for the leadership of the PCI. Despite this claim, multiple calls made by Pharmabiz to Dr Patel to confirm the existence of the stay order went unanswered.
The PCI's one-day workshop was held at the ADBU in Guwahati last week. The event brought together over 80 delegates representing 40 pharmacy colleges across North East India. The workshop’s goal was to familiarise faculty members and administrators with the newly revised B.Pharm curriculum under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the essential implementation protocols of the AEBAS.
The event was significantly elevated by the presence of several eminent PCI dignitaries, underscoring its national importance in educational reform. Attendees included Jashubhai Hirabhai Chaudhari, vice president of the PCI, Dr. Deependra Singh, chairman, Education Regulation Committee under the PCI, and other executive committee and central council members.
ADBU’s pro vice chancellor, Fr. Joseph Nellanatt, and the Registrar also graced the occasion, highlighting the strong partnership between the regulatory body and the host institution.
The inaugural session commenced with a warm welcome address by Prof. Raja Chakraborty, convener of the workshop, who highlighted the critical importance of aligning pharmacy education with evolving healthcare and digital trends. A traditional tribute was paid to the late Assamese icon, Zubeen Garg, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and Saraswati Vandana performed by students.
Fr. Nellanatt, in his inaugural speech, expressed his delight at hosting a workshop that contributes directly to national educational reform and academic excellence. Delivering the pivotal keynote address, the PCI vice-president emphatically stressed the significance of the NEP-aligned syllabus in strengthening core professional attributes like clinical competence, research aptitude, and ethical practice among pharmacy graduates. He used his address to urge participating institutions to swiftly adopt innovative and student-centred teaching methodologies to ensure the successful roll-out of the new curriculum nationwide.
In the first technical session, Dr. Deependra Singh provided an in-depth, comprehensive overview of the restructured B.Pharm curriculum. His presentation focused on the new competency-based framework and the crucial skill enhancement components integrated into the syllabus, such as mandatory internships and the inclusion of advanced technology concepts.
The post-lunch session transitioned into the critical domain of digital governance, focusing specifically on the AEBAS Attendance System. This hybrid session was expertly led by the PCI IT Department in the presence of Dr. Montu Kumar Patel and Anil Mittal, Registrar-cum-Secretary, PCI. The presentation outlined the system’s complete operational framework, necessary compliance protocols, and its crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability in academic institutions by digitally tracking faculty attendance.
The event successfully marked a significant milestone in advancing academic innovation and regulatory collaboration between the Pharmacy Council of India and the institutions in North East India.
|