The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has threatened legal action, including the revocation of approval, against pharmacy colleges that fail to update the details of faculty resignations or appointments through the online portal, which would be available all year. The choice would assist the Council in obtaining an accurate view of the institutions’ teaching staff situations. The PCI has observed that in some instances, the teaching staff has left the institution but has not been let go by the institution or the principal. As a result, even when the faculty has changed institutions, they are still listed in the old institution since they are unable to update their information, which prevents an accurate representation of the teaching staff’s status from being provided. Also, it has come to light that schools are submitting faculty names without permission.
The Council recently discussed the issue and resolved to link the faculty portal with the Standard Inspection Format and launch it year-round (SIF). The PCI portal for institutions and professors would be accessible for faculty hiring and firing, and it will be connected to Aadhar and PAN Cards. “If instructions appoint new faculty or discharge existing faculty, the faculty shall be relieved/joined through the site. According to the Council, legal action would be taken under the Pharmaceutical Act of 1948 if institutions fail.
It is required of all faculty members to update their Aadhar Card, PAN Card, and Aadhar Card-linked cellphone number on the PCI site under faculty portal. The Council will begin the verification process by integrating the Aadhar Card and PAN Card with the faculty portal. The legal action against providing inaccurate information on the portal will fall under the faculty’s purview. “Legal action may be initiated against the institution, including their approval being revoked under the Pharmacy Act of 1948, if any institution uses the name of any faculty on its portal without appointing them or if the faculty left the institution but was not relieved from the portal,” the Council official continued.
It should be mentioned that the PCI has already been taking steps to control the proliferation of pharmacy institutions and to protect the faculty’s and students’ interests by requiring security deposits from both existing and new institutions. This way, even if the institution experiences financial difficulties, the Council may be able to assist the faculty members.
