GUWAHATI, Aug 7 � Even as the Institute of Pharmacy attached to the Gauhati Medical College is all set to celebrate its silver jubilee, wide-ranging constraints have impeded its desired growth since it was set up in the year 1986.
It is only the second such institute imparting the two-year D Pharm (diploma in pharmacy) course, with its present annual intake being 60. Till date it has produced around 1,000 qualified pharmacists or pharmacy technicians, many of which are working in pharmaceutical industries and in State government, Central government and private hospitals as hospital pharmacists, community pharmacists, etc. Some are also engaged in various research works in the country or abroad.
Sources in the institute said that notwithstanding its existence spanning two-and-a-half decades, the institute failed to evolve in the manner expected of an established organization. It lacks a separate college building with a separate principal, and till date it does not have a single boys� or girls� hostel � much to the inconvenience of the students pursuing studies in the institute.
Sources added that laboratory facilities in the institute were far from adequate, and there was no computer laboratory with internet facilities.
Sources further said that the institute deserved to be upgraded to a degree college as there was not a single pharmaceutical degree college in the State.
In view of the evolving of the profession of pharmacy as a major component of the health-care system, sources said that advanced courses such as M Pharm (clinical practice) Pharm D (doctor of pharmacy) had been introduced in many institutes of the country but in Assam, it was still having just the basic diploma course.
Meanwhile, the institute is all set to celebrate its silver jubilee with a three-day programmed from August 18. The event includes a number of scientific discussions and lectures.
The alumni meet is another attraction of the event on August 19. The open session the next day will be chaired by Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the newly constructed Gauhati Medical College auditorium.
Prof Emeritus Dr BK Gupta, eminent pharmaceutical scientist and expert member of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and UGC, will be the guest speaker on the occasion.