Indian Pharmaceutical Association – Students’ Forum (IPA-SF)
Breaking new grounds, being through to its aims and principles, IPA channelised the students’ power by uniting them under one single umbrella The INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION – STUDENTS’ FORUM (IPA-SF) its student division. The promising body was given its rightful launch with upbeat fanfare and complete fiesta at the INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION STUDENTS’ CONGRESS. The three day Students' Congress organized by the IPA-SF at Marathi Bhasha Bhavan, University Of Mumbai received an overwhelming participation of more than 700 budding pharmacists coming from 80 different pharmacy institutions from 14 states of our country. The theme of the organization was PHARMA VISION 2020 for the future pharmacist.



Dr. B. Suresh welcoming his “Dear Dear Dear Students” to IPA-SC

The delegates were welcomed by Dr. B. Suresh, President, IPA and Mr. Chittoory S Murthy, Chairperson, IPA-SF. IPA-SF was officially declared as the student division of IPA. IPA-SF and IPASC being inaugurated at the hands of His Excellency Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was a great honour for the future pharmacists of the country.

The second day saw the poster presentation competition with 85 posters from across the country. The series of scientific session was continued on the second day. The Scientific session began with a lecture on Societal Entrepreneurship by Dr. Varaprasad Reddy, Managing director, Shantha Biotech. Dr. Reddy said in his utmost positivity , a very simple yet inevitable principle; a principle that required every student, including me, to see beyond their role as a mere professional and their role as a path of this commercially viable industry. It rather required us to see ourselves as individuals instrumental in shaping up an edifice of a strong society.



Dr Vara Prasad Reddy, MD, Shantha Biotech. being greeted by Dr. T V Narayana

The lecture on Regulatory affairs as a Career option was taken by Dr. M. Venkateswarulu, Former Drug Controller General (India). He did the important job of making us comfortable with the nuances of the legality of his profession in an age where courts are becoming as essential as hospitals. He insisted that although we have a common vision for the profession, each student should put forth their vision and work towards it, which in turn will contribute to the larger vision of the pharma profession. Dr. B Suresh gave an amazing insight into Pharm. D. The other stalwarts included. Dr. Mohanish Anand who lectured on Careers in Clinical Research, Dr. Parag Rindani, who delivered a speech on hospital management and Dr. L Panyappan who gave us amazing information on Community Pharmacy,
Dr. M. Venkateshwarulu addressing the students


Dr. Parag Rindani speaking on Hospital Management


Mr. Badrinath giving us an insight into Community Pharmacy practices in the US

The ecstatic moment arrived on the final day of the congress where almost every student delegate appreciated the IPASC, crowning it with the title of the best students’ congress they ever attended! More than 90% of more than 300 delegates surveyed rated the congress to have surpassed their expectations. The delegates and guests both showered praise on the Local Organizing Committee for their excellent planning, coordination and execution. At the end of the three days, which passed like three beautiful moments, it was the cross-roads of new frontiers, ideas and definitions, it was a link between potentiality and reality and, yes, it was a breakthrough, a perfect example, an ideation of the unity, confidence and the emergence of courageous thought processes of the FUTURE PHARMACIST!
The LOC with Dr Kalam


Dr.Kalam inaugurating the IPASC

The Indian Pharmaceutical Association – Students’ Forum the student division of IPA and Indian Pharmaceutical Association – Students’ Congress was inaugurated on the hands of His Excellency Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Its was great honour for the future pharmacists of India.

Mr.Chittoory S Murthy introducing IPA-SF
Dignataries on the dias[l to r] - Mr.Ram Banarase, Dr.T V Narayana, Dr.B Suresh,HE Dr. A. P. J. ABDUL KALAM, Prof. K. Chinnaswamy, Mr. J. A. S. Giri, Mr. Nitin Maniar

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam delivered an inspiring talk on how a pharmacy student can play an important role in the achieving VISION 2020. He asked the students to take up one of the four missions namely

  • To remove the pain of people
  • To introduce integrity in the business of pharmacy,
  • To partner Pharma R & D in drug development and,
  • To go to rural areas and provide health care services.
Dr Kalam during his speech, making the crowd speechless……….

He also made the future pharmacists take a five point oath which was:

  1. I realize Pharma is a noble profession.
  2. I will always apply science and technology in pharmaceutical work.
  3. I realize that pharmacy can provide cost effective pure drugs and medicines to the people.
  4. While I am working in Pharmacy from design to formulation development, testing, quality control and marketing, I realize any flaw knowingly or unknowingly will result into a loss of human life.
  5. I love my Pharmacy profession and I consider it as an honor to work as a Pharmacist, may God help me to serve the humanity.

He concluded his talk saying that we should work with integrity and make India a global leader by 2020.After this unforgettable speech; he also had a memorable interactive session with the pharmacy students. Ten students were given a chance to ask him a question each to which he spontaneously responded in an inspiring and motivating manner. He also felicitated the winners of the National essay Competition and coordinators of the National Anti TB Campaign. After the formal function His Excellency interacted with the students on a one to one level which struck an instantaneous electric cord with the students.

The electrified crowd trying to get a glimpse of Dr.Kalam