i) Particulars of the Organization, its Functions and Duties

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is a statutory body constituted under the Pharmacy Act, 1948. The Act was passed by the Parliament to make better provisions for the regulation of the profession and practice of pharmacy throughout the country. The main objectives of the PCI are – 1. To prescribe minimum standard of education required for qualifying as a pharmacist i.e. framing of Education Regulations prescribing the conditions to be fulfilled by the institutions seeking approval of the PCI for imparting education in pharmacy. 2. To ensure uniform implementation of the educational standards throughout the country. 3. To approve the courses of study and examination for pharmacists i.e. approval of the academic training institutions providing pharmacy courses. 4. To withdraw approval, if the approved course of study or an approved examination does not continue to be in conformity with the educational standards prescribed by the PCI. 5. To approve qualifications granted outside the territories to which the Pharmacy Act extends i.e. the approval of foreign qualifications. 6. To maintain the Central Register of Pharmacists on the basis of data forwarded by the State Pharmacy Councils.

ii) Powers and Duties of its officers

Registrar-cum-Secretary

The Registrar-cum-Secretary is the administrative head of the PCI secretariat. He/She acts as the Treasurer of the Council. He/She performs functions to carry out the activities of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 like convening various meetings of the Central Council, Executive Committee, Other committees etc. and implementation of the decisions taken therein.

Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary

They are responsible for inspections of the pharmacy institutions, processing of inspection reports and convening of meetings of the Central Council,the Executive Committee and other committees of the PCI and implementation of the decisions taken therein.

iii) Procedure followed in the decision-making process, including channels of supervision and accountability

a)   The Central Council

There is a Central Council constituted u/s 3 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 which consists of the following members namely :-

“3.    Constitution and Composition of Central Council. —The Central Government shall, as soon as may be, constitute a Central Council consisting of the following members, namely: -

(a) six members, among whom there shall be at least one teacher of each of the subjects, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacy, pharmacology and pharmacognosy elected by the [University Grants Commission] from among persons on the teaching staff of an Indian University or a college affiliated thereto which grants a degree or diploma in pharmacy;
(b) six members, of whom at least [four] shall be persons possessing a degree or diploma in, and practising pharmacy or pharmaceutical chemistry, nominated by the Central Government;
(c) one member elected from amongst themselves by the members of the Medical Council of India;
(d) the Director General, Health Services, ex officio or if he is unable to attend any meeting, a person authorized by him in writing to do so;  [(dd) the Drugs Controller, India, ex officio or if he is unable to attend any meeting, a person authorised by him in writing to do so;]
(e) the Director of the Central Drugs Laboratory, ex officio;
(f) a representative of the University Grants Commission and a representative of the All India Council for Technical Education;]
(g) one member to represent each State elected [from amongst themselves] by the members of each State Council, who shall be a registered pharmacist; 
(h) one member to represent each State nominated by [the] State Government, who shall be a registered pharmacist:
[Provided that for five years from the date on which the Pharmacy (Amendment) Act, 1976, comes into force the Government of each Union territory shall, instead of electing a member under clause (g) nominate one member, being a person eligible for registration under section 31, to represent that territory.] ”

The Central Council is responsible for the regulation of the profession and practice of pharmacy throughout the country.  The composition of the present Central Council is available on PCI website “www.pci.nic.in”. (click here)

b)   The Executive Committee

The Executive Committee considers the inspection reports relating to the course of study and examination in pharmacy and policy issues for submission to the Central Council.  This committee also considers and reports on any subject referred to it by the Central Council or by the President.  The composition of the present Executive Committee is available on PCI website “www.pci.nic.in”.  (click here)

c)   The Other Committees

There are the following other committees constituted by the Central Council from amongst its members for general/special purposes –

1.   Education Regulations Committee – The committee has been rendering necessary clarifications and revision of the Education Regulations and advising on the educational policies.  (click here)
2.   Law Committee – The Law Committee is formed to give expert opinion in matters inviting legal interpretation of the Pharmacy Act and regulations of the Pharmacy Council of India made thereunder.  (click here)
3.   Professional Pharmacy and Public Relation Committee – The PP & PRC Committee is formed to look into the professional issues relating to Pharmacy Profession.  (click here)
4.   Finance Committee – The Finance Committee is formed to look into the financial matter.  (click here)

These committees can also co-opt such persons who are not the members of the Central Council.

iv) Norms set by it for the discharge of its functions

The functions are regulated by the Pharmacy Act, 1948, the Education Regulations, 1991, the Pharm.D. Regulations, 2008.  All the Central Govt. rules and regulations relating to establishment, administration and financial matters are applicable to the PCI.  In addition, the Rules,  Regulations  and  by  laws  framed  by  the  Central Council, Executive Committee, Finance  Committee,  Law Committee, Education Regulation Committee and Professional Pharmacy and Public Relation Committee etc. are  also  significant  policy framework  for  the  discharge  of  its  functions.

v) The Rules, Regulations, Instructions, Manuals and Records held by the it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions

a)  The Pharmacy Act, 1948.
b)   The Education Regulations, 1991.
c)   The Pharm.D. Regulations, 2008.
d)   SIF-A, SIF-B, SIF-C and SIF-D
e)   Pharmacy Practice Regulations, 2015.
f)   Bachelor of Pharmacy (Practice) Regulations ,2014.
g)   The Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm)Course Regulations ,2014.
h)   Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Pharmacy Institutions Regulations ,2014.
i)   Staff Declaration Form (SDF).
j)   Inspectors’ Hand Book
k)   PDF guidelines.
l)   Migration Policy.
m)    Good Standing Certificate.
n)    Central Register of Pharmacists maintained on the basis of data forwarded by the State Pharmacy Councils.
o)   Central Govt. Rules and Regulations relating to establishment, administration and financial matters.

vi) Statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control

a)   Act, Rules and Regulations. 
b)  Annual Accounts Reports. 
c)   All  records  relating  to  the  operations  of  this  Council reg. SIF, Inspection Reports, Office Notes, Minutes of the meeting, Notifications regarding approval/dis-approval of pharmacy courses of study and examination.

vii) The particulars of any arrangement that exist for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof

1.   All policy decisions on technical matters are taken by the Central Council which comprises of the representatives from the Teaching Faculty, Central Govt., MCI, DGHS, DCG(I), Director, CDL, UGC, AICTE, States/UTs, State Pharmacy Councils.

2.   For any Regulation framed u/s 10 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948, due procedure u/s 10(3) of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 is followed by consulting the State Govts.

viii) Statement of Boards, Councils, Committees or other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public

a)   The details and composition of the Central Council and the Committees are shown in (iii) above.

b)   Important decisions taken in the meetings are uploaded on the PCI website “www.pci.nic.in”.

xi) Budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditure and reports on disbursements made

The  Annual  Budget  and  Annual  Accounts  are  finalized  with  the  approval  of  Finance Committee and all  financial  accounts  are  audited by  the office  of  the  Comptroller and Auditor General of India.  A statement showing the Budget Estimates and Revised Estimates for the financial year 2022-2023 and the proposed Budget Estimates for 2023-2024 is as given below –

xii) Manner of execution of subsidy programs, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes

The PCI does not operate any subsidy programmes

xiii) Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it

1.   A list of Pharmacy institutions which have been permitted to conduct course/approved under section 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 is available on the PCI website “www.pci.nic.in”.  (click here)

2.   There is no recipient of concessions.

xiv) Details in respect of the information available to or held by it reduced in an electronic form

All  official  information  is  accumulated  by  the  concerned  Sections  in  files  and documents.  However,  information  about  functions  and  activities  are  available  on  the PCI website “www.pci.nic.in”.

xv) Particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use

The  PCI office remains  open  for  public  dealing  on  all  working days.   Office of  the Council is open  from 9.30  A.M.  to  6.00 P.M. Public dealing hours  are from 3.00 to 5.00 P.M. on all working days with  a  lunch  break  from  1.30  P.M.  to  2.00 P.M.  Office  of  the  Council remains  closed  on  Saturdays,  Sundays  and  other  declared  Holidays. 

xvi) Names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers

CENTRAL PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

Smt. Pratima Tiwari, Deputy Secretary 
Pharmacy Council of India
NBCC Centre, 3rd Floor, 
Plot No.2, Community Centre, 
Maa Anandamai Marg, 
Okhla Phase - I 
Landmark - (Near Hotel Crowne Plaza) 
New Delhi - 110 020
011-61299900   (O)
E.Mail :  registrar@pci.nic.in

CENTRAL ASSISTANT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

Shri Ashish Kushwaha, STA
Pharmacy Council of India
NBCC Centre, 3rd Floor, 
Plot No.2, Community Centre, 
Maa Anandamai Marg, 
Okhla Phase - I 
Landmark - (Near Hotel Crowne Plaza) 
New Delhi - 110 020
011-61299900   (O)
E.Mail :  registrar@pci.nic.in

APPELLATE AUTHORITY

Shri Anil Mittal,Registrar-cum-Secretary
Pharmacy Council of India
NBCC Centre, 3rd Floor, 
Plot No.2, Community Centre, 
Maa Anandamai Marg, 
Okhla Phase - I 
Landmark - (Near Hotel Crowne Plaza) 
New Delhi - 110 020
011-61299900   (O)
E.Mail :  registrar@pci.nic.in

xvii) Such other information as may be prescribed

All  information  relating  to  the  procedures  of  study of applications, inspections, approval/dis-approval of course of study and examination in pharmacy  etc. and  important decisions for students/institution is  also  available  in  PCI website “www.pci.nic.in”.

Information Pertaining to Application Fee and Other Charges

The  person  seeking  information  may  apply  on  a  plain  paper  giving  particulars  of information being sought and his/her correct address for communication. 

-           A  request  for  obtaining  information  under  sub-section  (1)  of  section  6  shall  be accompanied  by  an  application  fee  of  rupees  ten  by  way  of  cash  against  proper receipt  or  by demand  draft or bankers  cheque  or  Indian  Postal  Order payable to the Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi.

-           For  providing  the  information  under  sub-section  (1)  of  section  7,  the  fee  shall  be charged  by  way  of  cash  against  proper  receipt  or  by  demand  draft  or  bankers cheque  or  Indian  Post al  Order  payable  to  the  Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi, at the following rates -

(a) rupees two for each page (in A4 or A3 size paper) created or copied;  
(b) actual  charges or cost price of a copy in larger size paper;  
(c) actual cost or price for samples or models; and  
(d)  for  inspection  of  records,  no  fee  for  the  first  hour;  and  a  fee  of  rupees  five  for each subsequent hour (or fraction thereof.) 

For  providing  the  information  under  sub-section  (5)  of  section  7,  the  fee  shall  be charged  by  way  of  cash  against  proper  receipt  or  by  demand  draft  or  bankers cheque  or  Indian  Post al  Order  payable  to  the  Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi at the following rates:- 

(a)  for information provided in  diskette or floppy rupees fifty per diskette or floppy; 
and  
(b) for  information  provided  in  printed  form  at  the  price  fixed  for  such  publication or rupees two per page of photocopy for extracts from the publications.