Haryana State Pharmacy Council Under Scrutiny Over Pharmacist Registration, Certificate Verification

The Haryana State Pharmacy Council is responsible for maintaining the register of pharmacists and overseeing professional conduct in accordance with the Pharmacy Act, 1948. Its responsibilities extend beyond registering individuals, as the council also has powers to take action in cases of professional misconduct. The functioning of the council is therefore directly connected with the regulation of pharmacy professionals and issues concerning patient safety.

The council was established on May 1, 1971, following the reorganisation of the Punjab State Pharmacy Council and the creation of a separate council for Haryana. Under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, state pharmacy councils are responsible for preparing and maintaining the pharmacist register and regulating professional activities according to the law.

The functioning of the Haryana council has faced questions over the years, particularly regarding the verification of educational qualifications before registration. In one case, an issue arose concerning a pharmacy diploma certificate during the council's investigation. Verification from the concerned institution reportedly indicated that the institution had not conducted a pharmacy course during the relevant period. The matter subsequently reached the High Court, where the certificate was recorded as fake in the court proceedings.

Questions have also emerged regarding delays in the registration process. In one matter, registration was completed after verification of the submitted certificates, while in another case, the process could not proceed because verification of the applicant's documents from the concerned university had not been received.

In several instances the council's verification process itself has brought potentially questionable documents to light. However, delays and uncertainty surrounding registration have also contributed to concerns regarding the effectiveness and reliability of the registration mechanism.

Disputes concerning the position of council president and the council's structure have also reached the courts. In 2024, the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed a petition challenging the continuation of the then council president in the post. Court records also referred to the restructuring of the council carried out in 2014 and the composition of its members.

The council has subsequently moved services such as registration and renewal online, although concerns remain about the monitoring of its large pharmacist register. With 72,929 pharmacists registered in the state, questions have been raised over whether the educational qualifications of every registered pharmacist are being reliably verified and whether the register is being continuously updated.

Another concern highlighted is the handling of professional misconduct complaints. The report points to questions over whether such complaints are being dealt with within a defined timeframe. The broader issue is that registration should not merely represent inclusion of a name in the professional register but should also reflect verification of qualifications and compliance with professional requirements.

The Haryana State Pharmacy Council was established to regulate pharmacists and maintain professional standards in the state. Pharmacists play an important role in dispensing medicines prescribed by doctors and providing information relating to their proper use, dosage and precautions. Consequently, concerns over incorrect registration or inadequate enforcement of professional requirements have implications for the wider healthcare system, reports Jagran.