Mysuru: Semester based credit and grading system for Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Pharmacy will be introduced from the coming academic year, said Dr K S Ravindranath, Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru.
Addressing the young graduates during the first graduation day celebration of Sarada Viilas College of Pharmacy at its premise here on Friday, he said “As per UGC guidelines, from coming academic year we will be coming out with semester and grading system for under graduation and post-graduation courses. Once we start semester system, naturally there will be also change in the syllabus. In 1980, there were just 27 pharmacy colleges across the country but in the last three and half decades there is a tremendous growth in the pharmacy education and training. Now, across the country there are more than 1000 pharmacy institutions which include nearly 500 B Pharma and other diploma tie-up degrees. In Karnataka alone, there nearly 55 pharmacy institutions which are affiliated to RGUHS. Every year more than 40,000 pharmacy graduates come out across the country. Though there are many applications to start newer colleges we will give more emphasis on quality education rather than the quantity. In India, basically these graduates are more towards industries while few of them take up research which is not the same in western countries where more get into hospital and community service.”
Pharmacy graduates underutilised
“They study so much about the drugs but they are not fully utilised. Policy makers and regulators should find some methods regarding how best we can use these pharmacy graduates in the patient care overall. Healthcare is not done by one person. It’s a team work as doctors, nurses, technical experts and pharmacies join hands together for the welfare of the patients. Pharmacy is a bridge between doctors and patients”, added Dr Ravindranath.
30 percent heart related diseases can be treated through medicines
“Now we have curative medicines for almost all diseases including some of the cancers, TB and Malaria. Apart from this, 30 percent of the heart related diseases can be cured through medicines which were not the same earlier. Even angiogram and angioplasty can be managed without surgeries. But the thing is, are these drugs affordable to common man? Union governments new health policy is coming in handy for the common people as they have come out with diagnosis and drugs free of cost for the poor at all Primary health centres. Whatever volume we do, it should reach the common man. In that direction we should see that the drugs reach all the people”, said Dr Ravindranath.
On the occasion Dr Ravindranath handed over graduation certificates to 22 B Pharma graduates and two M Pharma graduates. Seema Mudhol bagged overall tenth rank in state in the first year B Pharma with an overall of 83.25 percent. Apart from this, she also bagged nine more ranks in various other subjects. She wants take up research on Alzheimer’s disease.
