OUSL clarifies on Bachelor of Pharmacy degree

Responding to the article published on 11 March 2013, titled ‘Open University launches Bachelor of Pharmacy degree’, Health Sciences Department Head B. Sunil S. De Silva said that the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) was not responsible for the long delay in launching degree program.

Stating in a letter addressed to the Daily FT that the institution has been working hard since 2005 to make available the degree, Silva asserted that “The OUSL has not refused the request and the University Grants Commission (UGC) has not refused the program at any given time.”

The article having stated that the UGC refused to give the approval in 2011 and gave a favourable response in 2012, Silva pointed that the OUSL sent the necessary documents in July 2012, and the approval was obtained by 2013.

Applications for the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree are made available at the OUSL regional centres from 19 March 2013.

To be eligible for the degree, applicants should have three passes in GCE A/L science stream, including a credit pass in Chemistry, two years of work experience along with a registration as pharmacists with the Sri Lanka Medical Council. In addition to this, applicants are also required to sit a selection test.