The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is set to overhaul the assessment process for pharmacy education institutes across the country, moving away from a purely compliance-driven model towards one that actively promotes a culture of excellence. The PCI has issued a circular dated April 24, 2025 issuing directions to meet this new goal.
The PCI has joined forces with the Quality Council of India (QCI), an autonomous body established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to develop a state-of-the-art assessment system that emphasizes both regulatory adherence and educational outcomes.
The PCI has informed pharmacy colleges offering the Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharmacy) course that the third-party assessment process for the Academic Year 2025-26 has commenced, and their institutions have been deemed eligible for evaluation.
Mandatory Participation and Key Directives
The PCI has directed eligible institutions to undertake the following crucial steps:
- Colleges are required to immediately participate in training sessions that will be conducted by the QCI.
- Institutions must upload all necessary data onto the online portal in accordance with the guidelines provided by the QCI.
- Colleges will need to provide access to QCI and their authorized assessors for the physical verification of various parameters on their campuses.
- Institutions must strictly follow the schedules provided by both the QCI and the PCI from time to time.
- A non-refundable assessment fee of INR 50,000/- plus Goods and Services Tax (GST) is payable online to the QCI.
Timeline for Third-Party Assessment
The PCI has outlined the following schedule for the third-party assessment of D. Pharmacy colleges:
- Issuance of Letter to Colleges: May 1st, 2025
- Registration on QCI Portal and Fee Payment: May 15th – May 30th, 2025
- Application Submission: June 1st – July 7th, 2025
- Training of Assessors and Colleges: June 1st – June 30th, 2025
- Desktop Assessment: June 1st – June 25th, 2025
- Onsite Assessment: July 1st, 2025 onwards
The PCI has urged all concerned institutions to take urgent and necessary action to comply with these directives and participate actively in the third-party assessment process.
For any further inquiries or clarifications regarding the assessment process, institutions can contact:
Vibhor Kapur Deputy Director NABET (QCI) Mobile: 995859097 Email: vibhor.nabet@qcin.org.
The PCI has emphasized that the prompt cooperation of all pharmacy colleges in this initiative is highly valued, as it marks a significant step towards enhancing the quality and standards of pharmacy education in India.
