The Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (PCP) has barred 14 universities and colleges from admitting students to their Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) programmes and issued show-cause notices to another 29 institutions over concerns about compliance with academic and infrastructure requirements.
With this action, a total of 43 institutions are facing regulatory scrutiny from the council, which oversees standards for pharmacy education in Pakistan.
According to lists issued by the PCP, the 14 institutions prohibited from admitting students to their Pharm-D programmes include six institutions in Punjab, seven in Islamabad and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The institutions mentioned in the report include the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, Iqra University's Islamabad campus and Abasyn University.
The restriction means these institutions have been barred from taking new admissions to their Pharm-D programmes under the council's current action.
29 Institutions Receive Show-Cause Notices
The PCP has also issued show-cause notices to 29 institutions over concerns relating to their pharmacy programmes. These include 22 institutions in Punjab, four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and three in Sindh.
The institutions in Sindh served with notices are the University of Sindh, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Dewan University in Karachi, and Bharghari Institute of Pharmacy in Matli, District Badin.
A show-cause notice requires an institution to respond to the concerns raised by the regulatory authority. The notice is distinct from a formal ban on admissions.
The council identified several issues during its assessment of pharmacy education facilities at the three institutions in Sindh.
At the University of Sindh, the PCP raised an objection to the pharmacy building also housing the Department of Eastern Medicine and Surgery.
At Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Dewan University, the council pointed out that the pharmacy laboratories were too small and that other academic programmes were being conducted in the building designated for the Pharm-D programme.
The council also highlighted the absence of a computer laboratory and a dedicated pharmacy library, facilities considered important for pharmacy education and practical training.
Meanwhile, the PCP expressed concerns about the faculty at Bharghari Institute of Pharmacy. It directed the institution to appoint qualified and professionally competent teachers without delay.
The council's action highlights the importance of meeting the required standards for pharmacy education, including qualified faculty, suitable laboratories, libraries and appropriate academic facilities.
Students planning to enrol in a Pharm-D programme should verify the current admission status and recognition of their chosen institution with the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan before applying or paying admission fees.
The latest action also raises questions about the monitoring of pharmacy programmes and the enforcement of academic standards across public and private institutions.
The PCP's restrictions and notices affect a total of 43 institutions, although the two categories involve different regulatory measures: 14 institutions have been barred from admissions, while 29 have been asked to respond to the concerns raised by the council.
