BIASED, UNFAIR AND NON PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE OF PHARMACY COUNCIL OF PAKISTAN TO RECOGNIZE PHARM-D DEGREE OF BALUCHISTAN UNIVERSITY, QUETTA

The Department of Pharmacy, University of Baluchistan, Quetta started Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) course in 2004-5 and replaced Bachelor of Pharmacy. Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (PCP) granted temporary recognition to the aforesaid program. It was another sad aspect of this life saving profession that the recognition was awarded after twenty five (25) years. Recently, the PCP visits the pharmacy institution twice time and did not recognize the Pharm-D. Thus the situation is dilemmatic and uncertain since last six years. This has led the students of the program in utter despair and frustration. First batch of Pharm-D has almost completed the requirements for the award of the program but PCP repeatedly deferring the recognition. Approximately, two hundred pharmacists also have successfully completed the one year condense course of Pharm-D. Even though; the current member of PCP is not actual representative of the department of pharmacy, University of Baluchistan. He is on lien and serving as a Dean in Hamdard University Karachi. He also has not been nominated by University of Baluchistan for the PCP membership but he is member without nomination since last four years. This disappointing and unfair situation has led the pharmacist community of Baluchistan in utter frustration and despair. Dr. Tahir Farooq; Press Secretary, Pharmacist Federation Pakistan (PPF), Mr. Fayaz Ahmad Faizi; Vice President Pakistan Pharmacist Association (Pb.), Mr. Syed Sultan Muhammad; Hospital Pharmacist, BMC Hospital, Quetta and president PPF Quetta Division, Mr. Ghulam Razaque Shahwani General Secretary of PPF Quetta Division, Mr. Jamil Iqbal Achakzai; Government Public Analyst, Mr. Shafi Muhammad; Lecturer Dept. of Pharmacy University of Baluchistan, Mr. Jamal Babar; Hospital Pharmacist, BMC Hospital Quetta, Mr. Malik Sharif President PPF Gujranwala Division, Mr. Syed Muzzamail Masood Zaidi; President PPF Islamabad, Mr. Khursheed Alam; President PPF Rawalpindi Division and Mr. Masood Anwer Chaudhary Press Secretary PPF Islamabad said the attitude of PCP is completely biased, unfair and non-professional. The department of pharmacy in Baluchistan University has fulfilled all the professional and academic requirements of Higher Education Commission and Pharmacy Council of Pakistan. The facilities available are sufficient and fulfill the international standards. The department and the aspirant students are punished because they are situated and residing in Baluchistan. It looks like a conspiracy to keep them deliberately backward. Furthermore; they said being professional we can understand the responsibilities, duties, sources of resources, limitations and professional ethics. There are so many private sectors pharmaceutical institutions located in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi; have been awarded recognition like lottery coupon. But, the public sectored and chartered University of Baluchistan has not been given recognition by PCP. Thus; it seems an intentional attempt of some officials in the Ministry of Heath to keep the people of Baluchistan away from modern education, skills and technology. They don’t want them to get degree from recognized and well acquainted institutions.