Pharmacists play an indispensable role in the healthcare sector, serving as the vital link between doctors and patients. India ranks third globally in drug production, meeting 60% of vaccine, and 20% of generic drug demands worldwide. As the pharmaceutical industry experiences rapid growth, the need for skilled pharmacists escalates. Their responsibilities span from facilitating drug discovery and development to overseeing clinical trials and regulatory compliance.
India boasts over 3800 pharmacy colleges, churning out approximately 4 lakh graduates annually. This surge in pharmacist numbers anticipates a diverse array of career pathways, including roles in hospitals, retail pharmacies, and research laboratories.
Click here to join our WhatsApp channel
Pharmacy courses and their eligibility criteria
Pharmacy courses are mainly classified into diplomas, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degree and doctoral programs. The mainstream pharmacy courses and their eligibility criteria are listed below.
Diploma in Pharmacy (DPharm) :
The course lasts for 2 years. The candidates of science disciplines with PCM/PCB at +2 stream having a Minimum score of 45% are eligible for the apply. They are basically associated with drug stores hence they are known as a community pharmacist.
Bachelor in Pharmacy (BPharm):
Candidates with a 50% minimum in Science stream (+2) with either PCB or PCM are eligible for B.Pharmacy. Those with a Diploma in Pharmacy can join directly into the second year, known as Pharm (Lateral Entry). This 4-year degree program trains students in resource analysis, quality assurance, drug manufacturing, modification, and regulatory affairs, preparing them for roles as industrial pharmacists.
Master of Pharmacy (M Pharm)
The candidates should be graduated with B. Pharm with an average score of 60% from a recognized college/university. Graduates from other science disciplines with PCM/PCB at +2 streams are also eligible to apply. Through the 2-year postgraduate degree, students make a deep knowledge of medicines, their composition & dosage, and their consequences. They are associated with teaching fraternity also .Based on their roles and responsibilities, they are known as industrial as well as academic pharmacists.
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD):
Candidates who completed either +2 with science or diploma in Pharmacy are eligible to apply for PharmD. This is a professional degree with a tenure of 6 years of which 5 years are intended for theory and 1 year for the internship to get hands-on experience.
Based on their roles and responsibilities they are known as clinical pharmacist or clinical scientists .
Best pharmacy courses to pursue after BPharm :
The masters coursers that can be done after BPharm are - Master of Pharmacy or Cosmetic Technology (MCT), Doctor of Pharmacy, MBA in Healthcare Management or Pharmaceutical Management, Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmacovigilance or Public Health, PGDM in Medical Coding or Clinical Research.
Best Pharmacy courses to pursue after MPharm :
The masters coursers that can be done after MPharm are - PhD program in Pharmacy, M.Pharm in Biotechnology or Pharmacognosy or Pharmaceutics or Pharmaceutics or Industrial Pharmacy or in Regulatory Affairs or Medicinal Chemistry. And one can also go for specializations in : Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Clinical Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Regulatory Affairs
Online Pharmacy Courses:
Pharmacy courses are also available on e-learning platforms with a short time span, and it’s a good medium to advance your skills. There are more than 60 pharmacy courses online from globally accredited universities such as the University of Manchester, the University of California San Diego, Arizona State University and so on. Some of them are listed herewith Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Innovations, and they are - Drug Development, Blockchain applications in Food Safety, Healthcare & Pharma, PG Diploma in Clinical Research & Pharmacovigilance, Pharmaceutical Sciences, MS – Cannabis Science and Medicine, Careers in Pharmaceutical Industry.
Job opportunity:
The job opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector can be divided into three sections: (1) practice settings, (2) industry settings, and (3) other settings. The practice settings develop in hospitals, clinics and communities. Industrial job opportunities can be counted as production, quality control, packaging, sales & marketing etc. And jobs such as teaching and clinical research come under other settings.
ALSO READ: National Institute Of Pharmaceutical Education And Research Inaugurated In Changsari
Scope of Pharmacy in India and Abroad:
The emergence of new viruses leads to corresponding inventions in order to defend them, which extends the medical field and increases the need for skilled professionals. The career scope of pharmacy in India and abroad is diverse, and there are several opportunities available for pharmacy graduates. They can work in various settings, such as hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, research organizations, regulatory agencies and academia.
Abroad, the career scope of pharmacy is even more extensive. In countries like the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East the demand for qualified pharmacy professionals is high, and the salary packages are so lucrative. Beyond being pharmacists, they can also practice as pharmaceutical scientists, drug development experts, regulatory affairs professionals, and so on.
In conclusion, pharmacy is a field with vast career opportunities both in India and abroad. The growth of healthcare industries and the increasing demand for quality healthcare services will likely increase the demand for qualified healthcare professionals in the future.
(The author is a fifth year student of Doctor of Pharmacy, JNTUK. All opinions and thoughts expressed are his own.)