“Think Health, Think Pharmacist” – Shoolini University Showcases Pharma Excellence
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Solan, September 27
“Pharmacists are the true bridges between healthcare providers and patients, and they played a vital role not only in everyday healthcare but also in emergencies and pandemics,” said Industries, Labour and Employment Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan while addressing the gathering at Shoolini University on the occasion of World Pharmacists Day 2025.
He also assured full government support to strengthen research, innovation, and industry–academia collaborations at the university.
The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Shoolini University celebrated the day with great enthusiasm under the global theme “Think Health, Think Pharmacist.”
In his keynote address, Minister Chauhan praised Shoolini University’s role in nurturing socially responsible professionals and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bringing industry partnerships to the campus. He remarked, “Pharmacy has a bright future in Himachal Pradesh, which already houses seven medical colleges and one of Asia’s biggest pharma industries. I urge students to work with passion, stay away from drugs, and dedicate themselves to innovation that serves society.”
Dr. Deepak Kapoor, Dean of Pharmaceutical Sciences, delivered the welcome address and highlighted the school’s achievements, including 350+ publications in Scopus-indexed journals, more than 100 patents, and consistent improvement in NIRF rankings over the past eight years. He reiterated the school’s mission to ensure universal access to essential medicines and to strengthen collaborations for pre-clinical testing and patient guidance centres.
Chancellor Prof. P.K. Khosla encouraged students to “unfold their story with passion and always prioritise quality over quantity in research and life.” Pro-Chancellor Vishal Anand underlined the significance of Himachal Pradesh as Asia’s largest pharma hub and emphasized the importance of AI and new-age technologies in drug delivery systems.
Dean Dr. Deepak , further noted the school’s success in securing ₹3.5 crore in research grants from the Government of India, praising its strong research culture. Minister Chauhan also inaugurated the Food Incubation Lab on the campus.
Prof. Dinesh Chatanta highlighted the DST PURSE-supported facilities, which included snack food lines, puffed foods, fruit juice processing, vacuum tray drying, and millet-based snack products. He added that these facilities were also open for training programmes for women.
The celebrations concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Rohit Goyal, followed by a walkthrough of major university facilities, including the Yogananda Knowledge Centre, the Ratan Chand Oswal Himalayan Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology, and the Career Development Centre (CRC).
Earlier the day had begun with a warm welcome by Chancellor Prof. P.K. Khosla, Founder Trustee and President SILB Mrs. Saroj Khosla, and Pro Chancellor Mr. Vishal Anand. Other distinguished guests included Registrar Prof. Sunil Puri, Director Operations S.D. Mehta, Deepak Kapoor, Rohit Goyal, and Lalit Sharma. The programme also featured a visit to the AI Centre, a presentation by Rahul Bahadur, the inauguration of the Food Innovation Centre at the Crop Cafeteria, and a symbolic tree plantation drive to promote sustainability.
