Updating of knowledge is of paramount importance for teachers to keep in pace with the fast developments taking place especially in the field of pharmaceutical sciences. Therefore, way back in 1970, Govt. of India launched the Quality Improvement Programme with the objective to upgrade the expertise and capabilities of the faculty members of the degree level institutions in the country. Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR) (formerly known as College of pharmacy) was recognized as a QIP sub cell by the All India Council for Technical Education for Northern India in March, 1999. The Council sanctioned an amount of Rs.6.52 lacs for creating infrastructural facilities in our institute for M.Pharm and Ph.D programs for pharmacy teachers. We decided to take on the challenge.
Quality Improvement programme has two main aims. One is to provide short-term courses for updating skills & knowledge and second is to promote the teachers' activities for updating their P.G. & Ph. D. degrees.
This institute is widely acknowledged for its innovative and responsible role in producing top class scientists for technological up gradation of the Industry and for service to the community in all branches of Pharmaceutical sciences. Our institute awards Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees in "pharmacy". The institute is engaged in producing various specializations at Master's level viz. Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics, Hospital Pharmacy and Quality Assurance. In addition, a separate wing is engaged in producing Diploma in pharmacy also. The institute is maintaining an outstanding record of academic excellence. Majority of the students qualify GATE with flying colors every year. This year too, 32 students have secured more than 95 percentile; out of them 6 have secured more than 99 percentile.
The institution is also busy in conducting research in various thrust areas like anti-fertility
studies standardization of the herbal drugs, In-vitro culture studies,Hepatoprotective/antihepatotoxic agents, Novel Drug Delivery system, anti diabeticagents and HIV diagnostic kit stability
It is pertinent to mention that the job placement of Graduates and Postgraduates is 100%through the campus interviews which are conducted every year in the college by manyreputed National/Multinational companies even before the completion of the course inhighly remunerative positions since about 6 years.
The annual turnover of Indian Pharma Industry is 3.9 billion dollars. The competition inour industry is turning global with many Indian companies becoming Multinational likeRanbaxy, Dr. Reddy's, Cedilla and Sun Pharma. By 2005 as per World TradeOrganisation agreement, product patent is to be introduced. Pharmaceutical companieshave to innovate, expand R&D activity in order to survive the global competition. Thereis an increasing need for trained pharmacy post graduates and Ph.Ds in several newdisciplines of Pharmaceutical sciences like Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Herbal DrugTechnology, Biotechnology, Drug Regulatory Affairs to handle the increased R&Dactivity in Pharma Industry. Anticipating this demand we should take some special stepsto boost this unique discipline having a blend of both technology as well as healthsciences.
The pharmacist placed in hospitals is the right person to work hand in hand with thephysicians and other medical and paramedical staff guiding them about the various drug-drug interactions and can also be of paramount importance in patient counseling. Manydiseases can be tackled in a far better way provided proper patient counseling is carriedout.
As per the NHRC report, I feel that the Chief Pharmacist or the pharmacist supervisingthe stores should have a minimum qualification of M.Pharm. in Pharmacology or Hospital Pharmacy so that he can give the patient counseling and also can be an integral part of Drug Information Centre. The role of Pharmacist in healthcare team will prevent medication harass and promote the rational use of drugs. The identity and image of the Pharmacist will be reflected by wearing an Apron with the name plate so that the medical fraternity and the patient can identify him and can discuss problems related to drugs and diseases.
Helipads equipped with medical teams should be present in the hospitals so that the patients can be picked and brought to the hospital in minimum time, to minimize mortality in cardiovascular failure and other diseases, accidents, burns, etc. under supervision of doctors and pharmacists. The institute has already conducted eight Quality Improvement Programmes on various themes like "Screening & Development of Drugs", " Screening & Development Of New Drugs", "Recent advances in Drug Delivery System", "Trends in Novel Drug Delivery Systems", "Analytical Techniques", "Recent Advances in Analytical Techniques", "Advances in harmacology" and "Advances in Herbal Drug Technology", Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences" "Recent Advances in Pharmacology", Recent Advances in harmaceutical Sciences" "Recent Advances in Pharmacology", "Recent Advances in Pharmacology" I am happy that, we are starting the 14 th QIP. AICTE had given us the reedom to choose the theme for the short-term courses. So, this year we have chosen the topic "FRONTIERS IN ADVANCES IN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES".
As a Coordinator of this course, I hope that the delegates will try to acquire vast knowledge from this short-term course.
