PCI warns pharmacy institutions of criminal cases for submitting wrong information or documents

New Delhi, July 15, 2022: 

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has warned the pharmacy institutions that it can file criminal cases against the management of the institutions which submit wrong information or fraudulent documents to the Council.

The Council, in a circular to all the approved pharmacy institutions, has said that the provisions under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 empowers the PCI to seek any information or document as required to the course of study, training and examination.

Accordingly, the PCI would seek the information in the Standard Inspection Format (SIF) and other details as required from time to time. The Council sought the institutions to submit correct information in such instances.

“Please not in case wrong information/fraudulent documents are submitted to the PCI, the PCI can file a criminal case against the Principal, Chairman/Secretary of the trust/society/company of the institution for submitting wrong information/fraudulent documents with Mala file intentions to mislead the PCI,” said the circular.

PCI president Montu M Patel has recently warned the instructions and the inspectors against submitting any wrong information or fake report or document to the Council, warning severe action against those who submit such information or document.

“The PCI takes decisions based on the information and documents submitted by the institutions and the inspectors. If the information or documents are fake, the decision we take will also have an impact. We need to ensure that proper documents are submitted,” said Patel recently in a felicitation programme.

If any inspector gives a fake report, document or information in the inspection record, the Council will take legal action on the inspector. If the institution submits fake information, the Council will cancel their registration with the State Council and debar them from the faculty portal of PCI, he added.

PCI, in June, issued a circular to the inspectors detailing the procedures for surprise inspections to be conducted in institutions across the country. The inspection report has to be made in two parts - a report with regard to physical verification which can be sent to the institution and specific observations of inspectors which are not to be shared with the institution.

Without filling specific observations in the mobile app, the inspectors will not be able to submit the report. The inspectors also need to cross check the information they receive against the information submitted by the institution in the SIF.

They need to ensure comments on practical training imported in D.Pharm and B.Pharm, whether the equipment are in working condition or not, fund allocation of last financial year, among others. Documentary evidence of having conducted the classes, like practical notebooks of students, attendance register of faculty and students etc. has to be verified, original bills of equipment, chemical and glassware etc., record of sessional exams like sessional papers, answer sheet of students, record of sessional marks etc. also should be verified.

Compliance of PCI’s circulars regarding payment of salary to teaching faculty need to be verified. In case of Pharm.D inspection, physical verification of hospital facilities and internship record also should be verified, it said. Pharmabiz