The revised draft National Pharmacy Commission (NPC) Bill, 2026, which aims to set up the National Pharmacy Commission (NPC) and repealing the Pharmacy Act, 1948, proposes significant changes from the previous draft Bill released in the year 2023, with introduction of National Exit Test (NET) for registration as a pharmacist, an accreditation committee for approval of new pharmacy institutions and courses, and inclusion of pharmacy segment in the Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy into its provisions.
The draft also proposes introduction of Joint Pharmacy Councils, similar to State Pharmacy Councils, under which two or more States or Union Territory Governments may enter into an agreement to constitute a Joint Pharmacy Council with representation of the participating States, in the composition of a State Pharmacy Council, to be in force for such period and subject to renewal for such further period, as may be specified in the agreement.
The draft bill incorporates the pharmacy profession in the Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy right in its introduction, and defines pharmacy professional as any professional dealing with the ‘Modern system of medicine’ and ‘Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy’, and whose name figures in the National Register of pharmacy professionals. Separate Pharmacy Education Boards has been proposed, one for the modern system of medicine and the other for the ISM and Homoeopathy segment. The structure of the commission, the councils and the Boards, including the number of members, their eligibility criteria, and operations has also been revised accordingly.
The revised Bill, with a dedicated chapter on National Exit Test, proposes, “A common final year diploma/bachelor in pharmacy’ examination, to be known as the ‘National Exit Test (Pharmacy)’ shall be held for granting licence to practice Pharmacy as pharmacists and for enrolment in the State Register or the National Register, as the case may be”. The NET will be operational within five years from the date of commencement of this Act, as may be appointed by the Central Government, by notification.
The test shall also be the basis for admission to postgraduate pharmacy education in pharmacy institutions. The Commission will specify by regulations the manner of conducting common counselling by the designated authority for admission to the postgraduate seats in the pharmacy institutions.
The designated authority of the Central Government shall conduct the common counselling for All India seats and the designated authority of the State Government shall conduct the common counselling for the seats at the State level, says the Bill.
An Accreditation Committee with the President of the Pharmacy Assessment and Rating Board as the chairperson, and the Presidents of Pharmacy Education Board for Modern System of Medicine, Pharmacy Education Board for Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy, and Pharmacy Ethics and Registration Board as members has been proposed under the Bill. The Committee will also have one member nominated by the Chairperson of the NPC.
“No person shall establish a new pharmacy institution, or introduce any new Pharmacy course, or increase the number of seats in any existing course, except with the prior permission of Accreditation Committee,” says the Bill.
In the place of three boards proposed earlier, the revised bill proposes four boards – the Pharmacy Education Board for Modern system of medicine, the Pharmacy Education Board for Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy, the Pharmacy Assessment and Rating Board, and the Pharmacy Ethics and Registration Board.
It also proposes that second part-time members in the Board for modern system of medicine and the Board for ISM and Homoeopathy shall be appointed from amongst the pharmacy members representing the State Pharmacy Councils. However, no single state will have more than one such second part time member in more than one board at any given point of time.
The SPCs, while in the previous Bill were to have a Chairperson, four ex-officio members and three part-time members, will have a Chairperson and nine ex-officio members.
In the place of the National Pharmacy Register (NPR), proposed in the 2023 draft bill, the new bill proposes creation of an online live National Register of Pharmacy Professionals (NRPP), containing the name, address, recognised qualifications possessed by a pharmacy professional and such other particulars as specified by regulations.
The National Pharmacy Commission Fund, which was also proposed in the previous bill, can also be utilised to support and advance pharmacy students’ and teachers’ academic careers and research endeavours. The Bill also organises the powers of the Central government, State Government and the Commission in a structured format.
It may be noted that the Ministry has on July 1, 2026, released the draft of revised Bill, seeking comments from the general public and stakeholders prior to moving it to the Parliament for enactment.
Earlier, the draft Bill to set up the National Pharmacy Commission by repealing the Pharmacy Act 1948 and dissolving the PCI was published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in November, 2013 seeking public consultation. However, it was not tabled in the Parliament.
Source : Pharmabiz
