Mr. Prafull Sheth
Prafull D. Sheth also known to colleagues as P D Sheth and Prafullbhai, is a familiar voice for pharmaceutical profession in India. He is one of the distinguished Indian pharmacists who have acclaimed a rare position in the global pharmaceutical circles as the Vice President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation twice (Brazil 2006-10 and Spain 2010-14). When SEARPharm Forum was established in 2001 along with FIP, WHO-SEARO and National Pharmaceutical Associations of Southeast Asia, he took over as its Professional Secretary. (2001-14).
In India, he was elected twice as President of Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) (1998-2000 & 2000- 2002). He was President of Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (1997) and elected Vice President of Asian Pharmaceutical Association (FAPA) (2002-2006). As President of IPA along with President of Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), he presented to His Excellency President Dr APJ Abdul kalam Pharma Vision 2020 at Indian Pharma Congress at Chennai on the changing role of pharmacists for adding value of medicines (2003). Also held first ever FIP Community Pharmacy Section Executive Committee meeting at WHO-SEARO New Delhi, India (2004).
He is a Fellow of FIP and IPA. He is the author/co-author of several reports. Prafull Sheth has received several honours during his professional work with IPA and FIP.
Prafull Sheth was born in Mumbai on 8th February 1939. He studied at Institute of Science in Mumbai and received BSc degree in Chemistry from Bombay University (1961). Thereafter went to USA to study pharmacy at University of Missouri at Kansas City, USA and obtained BS (1964) and MS (1967). On completing his post-graduation, he worked at Rexall Drugs in St. Louis, Missouri, (1966-68). Subsequently, joined Stuart Pharma in Pasadena, California, USA (1968-72).
However, the die was cast for him to return to India and in 1972 where he Joined Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, New Delhi served Company for 25 glorious years and retired as Executive Vice President & Member, Board of Directors (1972-1997). Post retirement Prafull Sheth became Non-Executive Director on the Board of Unichem Laboratories Ltd. (2003- 2024).
For the past 20 years or more he is with his lifelong friend and international Consumer Policy Expert Prof Bejon Kumar Misra supporting his precious ambition to create awareness in consumers of their rights. As Vice Chairman of Patient Safety and Access Initiative of India Foundation (PSAIIF), he was engaged with Prof Bejon Kumar Misra in the pilot project of Universal Health Coverage at Mata Anandamayi Hospital in Banaras (2015-17). During Covid epidemic, to look at alternative therapy, he joined Prof Bejon Kumar Misra’s PSAIIF and partner organizations and helped to compile report on Mahamana Declaration of AYUSH (2019-2000). He is an Observer from Vadodara, Gujarat of the Ram Janki Sansthan (RJS) and Positive Broadcasting House (PBH).