New Delhi, Nov. 9 -- The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has pulled up several state pharmacy councils (SPCs)-including those of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana-for appointing individuals without pharmacy qualifications as registrars, a violation of Chapter 3 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948, according to two government officials and a document reviewed by Mint.

The development assumes significance given that pharmacists serve as the first point of contact for individuals seeking health advice or primary care, with these registrars being the gatekeepers to the profession by ensuring that pharmacy education standards are maintained by verifying that only properly trained graduates from approved institutions are registered.

The ...