Amid CBI Bribery Case, PCI Chief Montu Patel Removed from Gujarat State Pharmacy Council
Ahmedabad: In a major setback, Dr Montu Kumar Patel, president of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), has lost his membership in the Gujarat State Pharmacy Council.
The process to remove Patel from his position as president of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) by cancelling his primary membership in the Gujarat State Pharmacy Council was initiated by the Health and Family Welfare Department.
The Department issued a notification acting on the July 23 order of the administration of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, which cancelled Patel's nomination and removed him from the council. The move raises questions on his continuation as PCI president.
Earlier, Medical Dialogues team had reported that Patel came under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in July after raids were conducted at his residence in Ahmedabad. He was accused of granting approvals to pharmacy colleges in exchange for bribes, manipulating inspections, and issuing irregular recognitions. Documents and financial records were seized, and the probe was widened to other states. Patel, elected PCI president in 2022, was also serving as president of the Gujarat State Pharmacy Council.
The controversy adds to earlier criticism faced by PCI. In May, the Supreme Court had pulled up the council for arbitrary rejection of pharmacy college approvals and failure to apply due process. The developments have intensified scrutiny of PCI’s functioning at a time when reforms in pharmacy education regulation are already being debated.
According to DeshGujarat, a process has been initiated to remove Patel from his position as chairman of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) by cancelling his primary membership in the Gujarat State Pharmacy Council.
