Convocation @ PSG
V. Rajalakshmi receiving the Best Outgoing Student award from Chandrakant Kokate, Vice-Chancellor, KLE University of Health Sciences, Belgaum (second left), at the convocation of the PSG College of Pharmacy in Coimbatore.Even though India occupies the fifth place in the production of pharmaceutical drugs, it is very sad to note that 30 per cent of spurious and adulterated drugs are produced by India and China, Chandrakant Kokate, Vice-Chancellor, KLE University of Health Sciences, Belgaum, said here on Friday. Delivering the convocation address at the PSG College of Pharmacy, he asked pharmacy graduates to be committed soldiers of the profession and not fall prey to unethical practices.The field of clinical research would gain a lot of importance in pharmacy in the next few years, he said. “As against three B.Pharm. colleges in 1947, we now have 850, while the number of M.Pharm. colleges has increased to 160 from just one. The last five years have seen a metamorphosis in pharmacy.”Dr. Kokate said that India was rated 13th with regard to cost of medicines. Forty per cent of the manufactured drugs had export value. Not only the synthetic drugs but also the herbal medicines’ export was expected to touch the Rs. 27,000-crore mark by 2010.
“There are four important components, like wheels, pulling the health care system forward.They are the doctors, patients, pharmacists and the paramedical staff. Even if one wheel is damaged, the entire system collapses. Harmonious working is very vital,” he added.Since pharmacists held only diplomas, they were not taken too seriously so far. But, that would not be the case now, with B.Pharm. and M.Pharm. courses having good takers, their professional knowledge would be very strong. In a decade or two they would gain much importance, equal to that of their counterparts in the U.S., he said.Dr. Kokate mentioned that a new course called Pharma D. would be introduced shortly. The six-year course would be of use to those who wish to either pursue their studies or work abroad. “India has a great need only for B.Pharm. professionals,” he added.
A.K. Badri, Southern Regional Officer, All India Council for Technical Education, Chennai, pointed out that research was very weak in our country and the teaching profession was considered as the last option. He asked pharmacy graduates to go in for higher studies or pursue research.G. Rangaswamy, Managing Trustee, PSG Institutions; A.K. Chandrasekharan, principal, PSG College of Pharmacy; and M. Ramanathan, Professor of Pharmacology, spoke.
