Training in Pharmacy in India

' Bengal Pharmaceutical Association' in 1934 under the presidency of Colonel Chopra whose object is to build up the profession of pharmacy on a scientific and ethical basis, and to protect the public from the grave danger to which it is constantly exposed due to the scandalous way in which the drug trade is carried on in the country. In all other civilized countries in the world, the drug trade and the profession are controlled by laws. But unfortunately in India, the profession of pharmacy is practically ignored and the compounders who represent the profession are in a horrible condition. No systematic training is given to them throughout the whole country and above all there is total absence of laws to control their qualification. The training imparted to them is so very inadequate that they become wholly unequal to discharging their responsible duties. In other countries their professional brethren are thoroughly conversant with the science of pharmacy and are only engaged for their particular work, but in India the compounders are not only employed for dispensing medicines but they also have to perform the duties of dressers, operation assistants, ana;sthetists, nurses, etc. The chaotic condition of the compounders, who are even unjustifiably designated as compounders instead of pharmacists, or chemists and druggists, is fully discussed in the Report of the Drugs Enquiry Committee (1930-31) which calls for stringent measures to cope with it urgently. The Bengal Pharmaceutical Association drew the attention of the authorities concerned towards the miserable plight of compounders