Pharmacy is a profession that is related to health sciences. A pharmacy professional is engaged in the preparation, dispensing and appropriate use of medication, which results in desired therapeutic outcomes. Any pharmacist have to learn about the chemistry of drugs, the evolution and origin of drugs, the procedures involved in the development of drugs, their preparation, administration of drugs, the effects and the use of drugs in preventing and treating diseases.

Why a career in pharmacy is promising?

With the changing lifestyles and improvements in the living standards, the health care industry has experienced a boom in the recent years. This boom in the health care industry is expected to continue over the future with the advent of latest and more efficient treatment methods evolving as a result of research efforts to bring improvements in the health care market.

The developments in the health care industry calls for increased demand for health care professionals in the country. The demand for health care professionals exists in the areas ranging from research and development, to marketing and retailing of drugs. One advantage with this field is that there is large opportunity for the professional to grow and diversify in the same field as well as in related fields. The job prospects within the industry and the potential for growth makes pharmacy a good career option with larger chances of growth and value addition.

What are the qualities required for pursuing a career in pharmacy?

Pharmacists should have different qualities to lead a successful career in the field. First of all they should have a mental orientation towards science and scientific techniques and they should possess genuine interest in the field of medicine. In order to pursue a career in the field of research and development, pharmacists should have an excellent academic potential and record. Critical observation is the key quality that pharmacists in the field of research and development possess. Other qualities for professionals in the field of pharmacy are the ability to work methodically, carefully, and precisely in various institutions such as hospitals, laboratories, research labs, and shop floors. While dealing with patients, pharmacists should exhibit sympathy, care and friendly manners with them.

Different courses in the pharmacy field and eligibility

The different courses that can be taken up in the field of pharmacy are Diploma in Pharmacy (D Pharm), which extends to a period of two years, Bachelor of Pharmacy (B Pharm), which extends to a period of fouryears, Masters in Pharmacy (M Pharm) which extends to a period of two years and PhD programmes.

To secure an admission to Diploma in Pharmacy (D Pharm) course, the candidate must have passed 10+2 or an equivalent examination with compulsory subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology.

In order to secure an admission to Bachelor of Pharmacy (B Pharm) course, the candidate must have passed the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) or Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) or Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology. The course extends for a period of four years and the bachelor programme does not have any sort of specializations.

B Pharm graduates who wish to pursue masters in pharmacy should have to take the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT). The test is conducted under the guidance and control of National Monitoring Committee, AICTE and the Maharaja Sayajirao University. The admission procedure is guided by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) norms.

Graduates in Bachelor of Pharmacy who have completed 4 years of bachelor education or those attending the final year of 4 year bachelor course with 10+2 education or lateral entry are eligible to apply for the GPAT examination.

The specialization in the masters in pharmacy course includes Pharmaceutical engineering, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy, biochemistry etc. Pharmacy graduates can go for other higher studies programmes such as Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Clinical Research, or MBA programmes.

The pharmacy council of India is planning to introduce Pharm D with course duration of six years. The eligibility for securing admission to the course is a pass in 10+2 examination or equivalent.  The PCI also plans to introduce Pharm D (Post Baccalaureate) with course duration of three years. The eligibility to get admitted for the course is that the candidate must be a graduate in pharmacy (B Pharm). Both the courses will follow a curriculum that will meet international standards, especially that of the United States.

The Pharm D courses will enable Indian students to pursue a promising career in the field of pharmacy. More over, since the course follows a curriculum that meets international standards and is accepted world over, the students will have the opportunity to work with companies abroad.

The student pursuing the course will have to attend classes for a period of five years and then will have to attend a full time internship programme in the sixth year as in the case of medical course. The introduction of such courses will provide more employment opportunities for the pharmacists, as it gives more emphasis on clinical practice which in tune with the changing needs in the health care sector. In addition to this, it will ensure contribution from the part of the pharmacists towards the sector and towards the patients.

Career prospects with pharmacy course

Qualified and registered pharmacists can work with both government and private organizations. They can work with hospitals both in the private and government sector, pharmaceutical companies, research and development labs. In the government control body such as drug control administration, pharmacists can find jobs in various positions such as Drug inspector, Analytical Chemists.

Many MNC’s such as Hoechst, Pfizer, E Merck etc have started to collaborate with Indian research companies and labs including that are run by the government, thus creating many job opportunities for Indian pharmacy professional who are qualified.

Large firms operating in the pharmaceutical sector have their own labs that carry out research and development activities. Such firms require skilled and expert professionals with post graduation or Ph D for various posts such as Analytical Research Scientists or Product Development Research Associates.