By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 6 Mar: Sardar Bhagwan Singh University (SBSU) successfully hosted National Pharmacy Education Day, emphasising the theme “Entrepreneurship & Start-ups in Pharma and Pharmacy Practice: Encouraging Innovation, Incubation Centres, and Pharmaceutical Startups”.
The event brought together students, faculty members, and industry leaders to highlight the growing significance of entrepreneurship in pharmacy education. It aimed to inspire young pharmacy professionals to explore entrepreneurial opportunities and contribute to the evolving pharmaceutical industry through innovation.
In his opening remarks, Prof (Dr) Veerma Ram, Director, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technology, emphasised, “Our goal is to bridge the gap between pharmacy education and industry needs by encouraging students to develop innovative solutions through research and startup initiatives.”
Addressing the gathering, Prof (Dr) J Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, SBSU, highlighted the university’s commitment to fostering a startup-friendly ecosystem. “Pharmacy professionals today have the potential to be innovators and business leaders. By fostering a startup ecosystem within academic institutions, we can transform pharmacy education and healthcare delivery,” he stated. He added, “At Sardar Bhagwan Singh University, we take immense pride in our strong foundation in pharmaceutical sciences. For three decades, we have nurtured talent, fostered research, and produced graduates who have made remarkable contributions to the healthcare industry. However, today, the role of a pharmacist extends far beyond dispensing medicines. We must prepare our students to be innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who shape the future of healthcare.”
A major highlight of the event were the keynote lectures by two distinguished alumni, Deepak Juneja (Founder & Director, United Group of Industries, Batch of 2002) and Harshal Dhawan (Founder & Director, Meha Health Care, Batch of 2012). Sharing their journeys from academics to entrepreneurship, they underscored the importance of incubation support in transforming innovative ideas into successful pharmaceutical ventures. “Pharmacy education should not be limited to academics alone. With the right incubation support, students can turn groundbreaking ideas into successful pharmaceutical ventures,” it was emphasised. Both alumni expressed gratitude to their alma mater for its continuous efforts in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, ensuring that pharmacy professionals are not just service providers but also creators of transformative healthcare solutions.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof (Dr) Arun Kumar Mahato, who thanked all attendees and speakers for making National Pharmacy Education Day a grand success. Also present were Dr Deepak Sahni (Registrar), Prof Maneesh Arora (Dean of Student Welfare), Urmi Chaurasia (Controller of Examinations), and other esteemed faculty members.
