National Convention of Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India held

Chief Innovation Officer Dr.  Abhay Jere calls for ‘Promoting Research and Innovation’

Mysore/Mysuru: The 25th Annual National Convention of Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India was organised by JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, from Sept.2 to 4 at JSS Medical Institutions Campus, Mysuru.

The theme of the conference was “Empowering Academia for Advancing Pharmacy Education.” About 2,000 Pharmacy Professionals, students, industrialists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmaceutical leaders from different States took part in this three-day event.

Pharmacy education played a pivotal role in preparing competent pharmaceutical care professionals to meet the healthcare needs of the public, and pharmacists had an essential role in ensuring the effective and responsible use of medicines.

In this context, Dr.  Abhay Jere, Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) at Ministry of Education, Government of India, delivered lecture on ‘Promoting Research and Innovation’ in the country, especially on Pharmacy Research and Education. Also there were deliberations and discussions between Dr.  Abhay Jere and the pharmacy teachers.

In his lecture he mentioned that wealth is invested in doing research and it should bear the fruits of wealth in return to the researcher. Such a kind of research needs to be undertaken by the academicians and pharma industry, he noted. 

Continuing, he said that China is leading in research in pharma and innovation followed by USA and India produces 60,000 patents annually which is relatively less for 1.4 billion population.

Dr.  Abhay Jere regretted that many of the research proposals submitted by the academicians and pharmacy teachers do not meet the objectives and expected out comes of the calls from DST, DBT, AICTE, ICMR, DST SERB etc.

Stating that the healthcare profession comprising the industrial and practice sectors is undergoing a rapid change, he said that the ever-expanding practice sectors need clinically and technologically trained pharmacy professionals who can face global challenges and compete with multinational companies. It is in this respect that pharmacists play leadership roles to ensure optimum drug therapy, by contributing to the discovery, development, manufacturing, ensuring quality, supply, and regulatory control of medicines, he said adding that conventions like this will help pharmacy teachers and students to update their knowledge and skills.