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Pharmacy Career
Pharma is a recession-proof sector and hence a wonderful career option for students. Read on to find out how to get the required qualification to enter the domain…
If a person is having B.Pharm degree he can start his own shop, he can also start manufacturing unit of drugs, there are lots of Pharma companies either in manufacturing or in research and development, distribution. Students can go for various types of jobs.
PHARMACY EDUCATION IN INDIA
The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) control pharmacy education in India. Qualifications at different levels include Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm), Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D) and PhD in pharmacy. As the sector is quite challenging, students have to be well aware of what lies in store for them. Pharmacy students need to be realistic about the profession they have chosen to spend their career in. Students who are aware of the changes that are taking place in the profession will adapt more readily to contemporary pharmacy curricula. They may also find more satisfaction with the profession and may ultimately have more success in their careers.
WHAT IS BACHELOR OF PHARMACY?
Bachelor of Pharmacy or B.Pharma is a 4-year degree course. On completion of this degree, students can practice as a Pharmacist or can go for postgraduate programmes like Master of Pharmacy in Pharmavology etc. Students after putting in four years of rigorous studies will develop a deep insight related to the drug industry, sound knowledge of drug therapy. The study of pharmacy has evolved with a multidisciplinary, multifaceted curriculum, keeping with the emergence of the concept of global healthcare.
GAINING ADMISSION
To get admission to Pharma courses, the student must have passed class 12 with PCB and must have scored minimum of 50% marks (different universities have different eligibility criteria). There are various exams conducted by private and public universities for admission to various graduate and post-graduate Pharmacy courses. Almost all the institutions offering B. Pharm follow merit-based admission process, based on marks in the 10+2 board and performance in entrance tests.
PHARMA D- AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION
Pharma D stands for Doctor of Pharmacy; it is a Postgraduate Doctorate Degree programme. The duration of Pharm D course is six years. In this programme the academic period lasts for five years and the last one year is dedicated for internship.
The advantage of doing Pharm D is that after completing this course, successful graduates will get the title of Doctor. The course focuses on fundamental concepts of pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, healthcare studies, pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical care.
ROLE OF PHARMACISTS
Pharmacist play various roles in all aspects of drug and medicine use, whether the first discovery, the drug’s development, or its supply to patients. Pharmacists have an important role in discovery of new drug molecule; its evaluation in clinical settings; development; approval for human consumption; manufacture; distribution; regulatory controls; and various other aspects of the healthcare sector.
DEMAND FOR PHARMACISTS
Pharmacists play an important role in healthcare sector to meet the demands of hi-tech pharmaceutical industry and colleges need to continuously revise their curriculum. Pharma graduate are no longer limited to jobs in laboratories but have range of opportunities knocking at their doorsteps.
OTHER CAREER OPTIONS
Some of the other career options are as teachers; health manager involving health management and quality analysis by investigating the effects of medications, creating awareness against diseases and suggesting preventive measures; quality control manager or analytical chemist. Pharma graduates are also preferred as medical sales representatives. There other opening in clinical research and as subject experts in regulatory bodies as well.
Before you choose pharma sector as your career destination, address the following questions first.
- What is your interest?
- What do you want to be- both in the short and long term?
- What are your skills?
- What types of career fits your skills and interest?
If you conclude that your aptitude and attitude are right, then you can opt for the following.
Contract Research Organization
Various contract organizations do research on New Drug Discovery, Process Development, and Clinical Research & Formulation Development. Those with B.Pharm/M.Pharm/PhD can eye this domain.
Regulatory Affairs
Various documents are necessary for R&D and Production of Drugs/ Medical Devices. Expertise is needed to understand and incorporate latest changes in regulatory requirements of National GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), World Health Organization GMP and US Food and Drug Administration. Regulatory Inspections are done at regular intervals and companies require pharmacy professionals for preparing and executing such regulatory requirements.
Sales and Marketing
If your skills match the job profile, you can opt for Sales and Marketing jobs, responsible for sales promotion of pharma brands to doctors and hospitals. Starting your career as Medical Representative you can rise in the hierarchy to become Vice President Sales or even President Sales. You can also explore international marketing and exports.
Advertising
Healthcare advertising is catching up in a big way, quite visible in the brand building and sdvertising campaigns for many pharma products. Social media and digital media marketing are also strongly catching up, leading to many openings here.
Manufacturing and Production
There are plenty of opportunities in the production of Bulk Drugs (API) and intermediates. From the level of a Production Chemist one can rise to the position of Vice President Production. Qualification required would be B.Pharm/M.Pharm/MBA.
Quality Control
With a B.Pharm/M.Pharm, you can start your career as Quality Chemist (Competent Technical Staff) and can become a QC- Executive/Technical Manager/ QC- Manager/Chief Quality Control Manager etc.
Community Pharmacy: Medical store/druggist and chemist
Hospital Pharmacy: involves medicine selection, managing inventory and storage of medicines and allied products in private hospitals, public hospitals, District Hospitals, Tertiary & Teaching Hospitals, other public sector hospitals and also small scale manufacturing/compounding, sterile supplies, dispensing of medicines, patient counseling, health promotion and taking part in National Health Programmes.
Clinical Pharmacy: involves ADR (Adverse Drug Reaction) prevention, detection, monitoring, reducing drug, interaction and drug related problems, taking patient medication history, taking part in ward rounds along with doctors and nurses, deciding/adjusting medication dosing for patients and providing drug information.
Academics: Pharmacists can also work as teachers in teaching institutes and pharmacy colleges. Post-graduation is the minimum qualification to qualify as a lecturer.
FULL- TIME PROGRAMMES AND ELIGIBILITY
PROGRAMME | ELIGIBILITY | DURATION
|
Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) | 10+2 with PCB | 4 years |
Master of Pharmacy | B.Pharm | 2 years |
Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) | 10+2 with PCB | 2 years |
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) | 10+2 with PCB | 6 years |
Ph.D in Pharmacy | M.Pharm | 3 years |
MBA (Pharma Management) | B.Pharm, Science, Life Science MBBS, BDS | 2 years |
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