The admission process to D.Pharm. Courses conducted by Government and private institutions in Kerala have begun. Those who would like to take the plunge into the field of pharmacy can think of seizing this opportunity.

The Directorate of Medical Education has invited applications for Admissions to diploma courses in pharmacy (D.Pharm.) conducted by various Government Medical Colleges and private pharmacy colleges in Kerala.

Number of Seats

The total number of seats available for D.Pharm. Course is 1,210, of which 695 are free seats and 515 are payment seats. In the Government sector, apart from the four Government Medical Colleges, the Priyadharsini Institute of Paramedical Science also conducts D.Pharm courses for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) candidates. In the private sector, 15 Pharmacy colleges are conducting the D.Pharm. Course. D.Pharm is a minimum qualification required to become a pharmacist or to start a medical shop.

Colleges with intake Government Medical Colleges:-

1.Thiruvananthapuram (20 seats),
2.Alappuzha (40 seats),
3.Kottayam (30 seats),
4.Kozhikode (50 seats),
5.PIPMS for SC/ST (40).

Private sector:-

1.John Enoch College of Pharmacy, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram (100 seats).
2.Aiysha Majeed College of Pharmacy, Malik Deenar Charitable Hospital, Kasaragod (60).
3.IDT Islam College of Pharmacy, Kozhikode (60).
4.A.J College of Pharmacy Thonnackal, Thiruvananthapuram (60).
5.Carithas College of Pharmacy, Kottayam (60).
6.Lisie College of Pharmacy, Ernakulam (60).
7.Amritha College of Pharmaceutical Science, Chalakuzhi lane, Thiruvananthapuram (60).
8.Crescent College of Pharmacy, Mottabram, Puthiyangadi, Kannur (60).
9.Jamia Salafiyya Pharmacy College, Pulikkal (60).
10.St. Joseph College of Pharmacy, St. Joseph Hospital, Muttom, Cherthala, Alappuzha (60).
11.Fathima College of Pharmacy, Kollam (Subject to the Approval of Pharmacy Council of India) (120).

Management seats

In the private pharmacy colleges 50 % of seats will be free seats and these will be filled according to the rank list prepared on the basis of marks secured for Physics and Chemistry in the qualifying examination.
The remaining 50 % seats will be management seats on payment basis and allotment to these seats will also be made by the Director of Medical education from the same rank list. Mandatory reservation will be followed for the payment seats also.

Mandatory reservation of seats in free, payment categories respectively are as follows:

State merit - 347,257; Regional Reservation- Travancore-Cochin-64, 47; Malabar -40, 30; Socially and Educationally Backward class(SEBC)-Ezhava/Thiyya -63, 46; Muslim-56,41; Other Backward Hindu-35,26; Latin Catholic other than Anglo Indian-14,11; Other backward Christian -7,5; SC-55,41; ST- 14,11.
SEBC applicants whose annual family income does not exceed 2, 50,000 only are eligible for reservation.
Special Reserved category and seats: Nominees of Union Territory of Pondicherry - 5 seats, Nominees of Andaman and Nicobar Island Administration-one seat. Nominees of Lakshadweep-two seats, Orphanage Applicants-four seats, Outstanding Sportsman-one seat, Physically Handicapped- two seats, Dependents of servicemen killed in action, ex-servicemen-two seats.

Eligibility

Keralites are eligible for admission except for the seats reserved for the nominees of the Government of Pondicherry Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Applicants who are non-Keralites and who have under gone the qualifying course in Kerala and who are sons or daughters of the Central Government employees/defense personnel posted to Kerala are also eligible for admission provided such employees have served in the state for a minimum of two years.

Qualification

The applicants should have passed pre-degree/plus two/Equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Mathematics as optional subjects. No mark restriction is imposed. They should have completed 17 years as on 31st December 203. Upper age limit is 30.

Fee structure

Tuition fee for free seats is Rs. 3,300 a year. For Payment seats tuition fee has been fixed as Rs. 22,0000 a year (apart from miscellaneous fee Rs. 50, caution deposit Rs. 1,000. Stationery fee Rs. 50). Students admitted to the payment seats should furnish cash security or bond for the second year tuition fees at the time of admission.

How to apply

There is a common application from for Government medical Colleges and Private Pharmacy colleges. Application forms and prospectus can be obtained from the principals of State Government Medical Colleges on payment of Rs. 50 (for SC/ST Rs. 30) up to September 15.
For receiving by post, one should remit Rs. 75 (for SC/ST Rs.48) by money order in the name of Principal of any Government Medical college before September10.
Completed Applications with enclosures should reach the Director of Medical Education, Thiruvananthapuram-695 011 before September16.

Course Contents

During the first year, Pharmaceutics-I, Pharmaceutical Chemistry-I, Pharmacognosy, Biochemistry and clinical Pathology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Health Education and Community Pharmacy Subjects would be covered.

The second year curriculum includes: Pharmaceutics II, Pharmaceutical Chemistry II, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Drug Store and business Management, Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence, Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy.