NAGPUR: In a relief for diploma in pharmacy (DPharm) students across the country, Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has allowed registration and issuance of licences to the 2022-23 batch after their exit exam, scheduled for Oct 2024, was deferred by National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) indefinitely.
NBEMS postponed DPharm Exit Examination (DPEE), comprising three papers, asking students to keep checking its website for updates. However, it didn’t provide any specific reason for the deferment, leaving the student community in lurch.
In the absence of registration certificates and licences, the graduating batch of 2024 had been unable to work as pharmacists or start their own businesses. On Dec 31, PCI notified students that the exam had been deferred indefinitely and announced that it would allow registration and licensing for one year for all students. PCI had previously prohibited students from renewing their licences without passing the exit exam.
“After months of waiting, registration is finally underway, and licences are being issued, allowing us to start our careers or businesses,” said a student, expressing gratitude towards PCI and the govt.
The statutory body has written to Union health ministry, seeking its nod to amend regulation 6 of DPEE 2022 under section 10 of Pharmacy Act 1948 to hold just one paper, instead of three.
