The Indian Pharmacist Association (IPA) has submitted a detailed representation to Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, urging the Government of India to comprehensively revise the Draft National Pharmacy Commission (NPC) Bill, 2026 before it is introduced in Parliament. The association has also separately requested the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to issue nationwide implementation directions for the recently notified Pharmacist Recruitment, Promotion and Service Regulations.
According to the representation dated 7 July 2026, IPA welcomed the government's efforts to modernize healthcare education and professional regulation but expressed concern that the current draft does not adequately represent the pharmacy profession. The association stated that several provisions require revision to ensure balanced governance and effective regulation of pharmacists across the country.
Key Concerns Raised by IPA
IPA highlighted several major issues in the Draft National Pharmacy Commission Bill:
• Insufficient representation of practising pharmacists, with the proposed Commission being largely dominated by academicians and nominated members.
• Replacement of elected representation under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, with nominated members, which the association says weakens professional self-governance.
• Clubbing of Modern Pharmacy and AYUSH Pharmacy despite their distinct educational, professional, and regulatory requirements.
• Excessive centralisation, which could reduce the autonomy and effectiveness of State Pharmacy Councils.
• Lack of parity with governance structures provided under the National Medical Commission and National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Acts.
• Limited statutory recognition of pharmacy practice, including hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, public health pharmacy, and patient-oriented pharmaceutical care.
• Concerns over implementing the National Exit Test without adequate infrastructure, faculty preparedness, and stakeholder consultation.
Recommendations to the Government
IPA has requested the Ministry to :
• Revise the Draft National Pharmacy Commission Bill after comprehensive stakeholder consultations.
• Ensure statutory representation of practising pharmacists from hospitals, community pharmacy, industry, regulatory services, and other practice sectors.
• Restore democratic governance through elected pharmacist representation.
• Strengthen the role and autonomy of State Pharmacy Councils.
• Provide explicit recognition to pharmacy practice beyond education.
• Align the governance structure with other national healthcare regulatory commissions.
• Introduce the National Exit Test only after adequate infrastructure and consultation.
The association emphasized that the National Pharmacy Commission should regulate the entire pharmacy profession, rather than functioning primarily as a regulator of pharmacy education.
Separate Representation on Pharmacy Cadre Regulations
In another letter dated 6 July 2026, IPA requested the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to issue suitable advisories and directions to Central Government health establishments, State Governments, and Union Territories for nationwide adoption of the recently notified Pharmacist Recruitment, Promotion and Service Regulations.
IPA stated that the new regulations establish a structured pharmacy cadre framework, define promotional hierarchies, recruitment rules, and service conditions, and are expected to strengthen pharmaceutical care, patient safety, medicine management, and clinical pharmacy services across India.
The association believes that early implementation of these regulations will support career progression for pharmacists while enhancing healthcare delivery and the rational use of medicines nationwide.
