Centre Unveils Draft National Pharmacy Commission Bill 2026 to Replace PCI, Introduce National Exit Test

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the revised Draft National Pharmacy Commission Bill, 2026, proposing a major overhaul of pharmacy education and professional regulation in India. Published on July 1, 2026, the draft Bill invites comments from the public and stakeholders until July 31, 2026, before it is introduced in Parliament.

If enacted, the legislation will repeal the Pharmacy Act, 1948, dissolve the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), and establish a new National Pharmacy Commission (NPC) as the apex statutory body to regulate pharmacy education, professional standards, and registration.

According to the draft Bill, the proposed Commission will be headquartered in New Delhi and comprise a Chairperson, 15 ex officio members, and 13 part-time members representing academia, the pharmacy profession, and government.

The Chairperson must be a registered pharmacist with a bachelor's degree in pharmacy, a postgraduate qualification in pharmaceutical sciences, at least 20 years of experience, including 10 years in a leadership role, and will serve a single four-year term. The Chairperson and members cannot be reappointed beyond their term or continue after attaining 70 years of age. They will also be required to declare their assets upon assuming office.

The Bill also bars the Chairperson or members from accepting employment with any pharmacy institution whose matters they dealt with during their tenure for two years after leaving office.

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The NPC will function through four specialised boards:

• Pharmacy Assessment and Rating Board

• Pharmacy Ethics and Registration Board

• Pharmacy Education Board for Modern System of Medicine

• Pharmacy Education Board for Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy

The Bill also proposes an Accreditation Committee, chaired by the President of the Pharmacy Assessment and Rating Board, to approve new pharmacy institutions, new courses, and increases in student intake. Institutions will require prior approval before introducing new programmes or expanding seats.

Instead of relying on one-time institutional approvals, the draft proposes periodic assessments, accreditation, public ratings, and risk-based regulatory action to strengthen quality assurance.

One of the most significant reforms is the introduction of a National Exit Test (Pharmacy), a common final-year examination for diploma and bachelor's pharmacy students. The test will become operational within five years of the Act coming into force and will serve as the basis for granting licences to practise, enrolment in State or National Registers, and admissions to postgraduate pharmacy programmes.

The Bill also proposes an online live National Register of Pharmacy Professionals, maintained by the Pharmacy Ethics and Registration Board, to synchronise registration records across states and improve transparency and verification of professional credentials.

Candidates with recognised foreign pharmacy qualifications will also be required to qualify the National Exit Test before obtaining registration in India.

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The revised draft expands the regulatory framework to include pharmacy professionals from both the Modern System of Medicine and the Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy, with separate education boards for each.

It also proposes the establishment of a Pharmacy Advisory Council to strengthen coordination between the Centre and states, and introduces provisions for Joint Pharmacy Councils, allowing two or more states or Union Territories to constitute a common council through mutual agreement.

The Commission will also regulate standards for pharmacy education, training, faculty, clinical facilities, research, continuing professional education, and tuition fees.

The Ministry has invited pharmacy professionals, academic institutions, industry bodies, state governments, and the general public to submit comments on the draft Bill by July 31, 2026.

(Rh/ARC/MSM)