WHAT IS PHARMACY AS A SUBJECT
Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it links Health Sciences with Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Sciences. The professional practice is becoming more clinically oriented as most of the drugs are now manufactured by pharmaceutical industries. Based on the setting, pharmacy practice is either classified as community or institutional pharmacy. Providing direct patient care in the community of institutional pharmacies is considered clinical pharmacy.
The scope of pharmacy practice includes more traditional roles such as compounding and dispensing of medications. It also includes more modern services related to Health Care including Clinical services, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, and providing drug information. Pharmacists, therefore, are experts on Drug Therapy and are the Primary Health professionals who optimize the use of medication for the benefit of the patients.
The field of pharmacy can generally be divided into three primary disciplines:
Pharmaceutics
Pharmacokinetics
Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy
Pharmacy Practice
WHY STUDY PHARMACY
At the intersection of the living Sciences, Chemistry and Medicine lies the varied area of Pharmacy. It provides a variety of fascinating occupations with excellent growth potential in India. Pharmacy courses play a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare. Let us look at some insights about why pursuing a pharmacy course can be beneficial:
Patient Safety and Medication Expertise: Pharmacists are essential in ensuring patient safety by accurately dispensing medications, providing counseling on drug usage, and monitoring potential interactions between different drugs. They play a crucial role in preventing medication errors.
Pharmaceutical Science and Research: Pharmacy courses cover topics related to Pharmaceutical Science, Drug development, and Research. Students learn about drug formulations, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics. This knowledge contributes to medical advancements and innovations.
Diverse Career Opportunities: After completing pharmacy courses, graduates can explore various career paths.
Pharmacy courses introduce aspirants to subjects such as Medicine, Chemistry, Biology and Anatomy. During the Pharmacy course duration, students learn about safe and effective use of medicine in the healthcare industry. According to IBEF, India is the largest provider of drugs across the globe. The Indian pharmaceutical industry meets more than half of the global demand for various vaccines, 40% of generic demand in the United States, and 25% of total medicine in the United Kingdom.
Remember, pharmacy courses empower you to contribute significantly to healthcare, making a positive impact on people’s lives.
PHARMACY COURSES AFTER 12TH AND BEYOND:
There are plenty of Pharmacy courses in India that the students can study. These courses aim to ensure that the students have access to all the vital information they need to build a rewarding and successful career for themselves. There are many benefits of Pharmacy course degree. The most prominent of them is the rewarding and successful career students can build upon completion.
Students planning to pursue a career as a pharmacist can pursue Pharmacy degree courses at the Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma/PG Diploma, Certificate and Doctoral levels. B Pharmacy, M Pharmacy, and Diploma in Pharmacy are popular Pharmacy Courses After 12th.
ELIGIBILITY FOR PHARMACY COURSES
Eligibility and Core Subjects: To pursue pharmacy courses, candidates typically need to have a background in Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. A minimum of 50% marks or equivalent is required for eligibility.
COURSE LEVELS AND DURATION:
UG Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm): A 4-year program that covers drug synthesis, formulation, and preclinical testing. It also includes aspects like marketing pharmaceutical products and patenting new drugs.
Duration: 4 years
Curriculum: B. Pharm covers topics related to drug synthesis, dosage formulation, chemical analysis, and preclinical testing of new drugs.
Additional Aspects: Apart from technical aspects, B. Pharm also delves into marketing pharmaceutical products and patenting new drugs12.
Career Prospects: Graduates can work as pharmacists, drug inspectors, pharmacologists, research associates, and more.
PG Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm): Specialized courses in areas like Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Pharmaceutics.
Duration: 2 years
Specializations: M. Pharm offers various specializations such as Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Industrial Pharmacy, and more.
Career Paths: Graduates can pursue Research, Teaching, or Industry roles.
Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharm):
Duration: 2 years
Curriculum: D. Pharm focuses on practical aspects of pharmacy, including dispensing medications and understanding drug interactions.
Career Opportunities: D. Pharm holders can work in retail pharmacies, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies.
Pharmacy Certification Courses:
Duration: Varies
Focus: These short-term courses enhance specific skills (e.g., clinical research, regulatory affairs).
Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy):
Duration: 6 years (including internship)
Curriculum: Pharm.D emphasizes clinical pharmacy, patient care, and drug therapy management.
Roles: Pharm.D graduates can work in hospitals, clinics, and community health centers.
Doctor of Pharmacy (Post Baccalaureate):
Duration: Varies
Advanced Degree: Designed for B. Pharm graduates seeking advanced clinical training.
Opportunities: Roles in Hospitals, Clinical Research, and Academia.
Doctorate (Ph.D.): For those interested in Research and Academia.
TYPES OF PHARMACY COURSES (BRANCHES)
Pharmacy is a broad and diverse subject of study, and hence the students have scope to study about a wide range of topics in it. The stream is concerned with Medicine, Human Body, Anatomy & Physiology and Pharmacology. Some of the Pharmacy courses after 12th include:
Under Graduate Pharmacy Courses
B.Pharma
B.Pharm (Hons)
B.Pharm Pharmaceutical Chemistry
B.Pharm Pharmacognosy
Bachelor of Ayurvedic Pharmacy
B.Pharm Pharmaceutics
B.Pharm + MBA
Post Graduate Pharmacy Courses
There are many Postgraduate Pharmacy courses in India that can be pursued by the students. These courses will enable students to learn about Pharmaceutical sciences in a more in-depth manner. Due to the detailed nature of these Pharmacy courses after graduation, students are presented with a wide range of career paths. Given below are some of the popular postgraduate courses that the students can enrolI in:
M.Pharm
M.Pharm Pharmacology
M.Pharm Pharmaceutics
M.Pharm Pharmaceutical Chemistry
M.Pharm Quality Assurance
M.Pharm Pharmaceutical Analysis
M.Pharm Pharmacognosy
M.Sc Pharmacology
M.Sc Pharmaceutical Chemistry
M.Pharm Clinical Pharmacy
M.Pharm Industrial Pharmacy
M.Pharm Biopharmaceutics
M.Pharm Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics
M.Pharm Biotechnology
M.Pharm Medicinal Chemistry
M.Pharm Drug Discovery and Drug Development
M.Pharm Cosmeceuticals
M.Pharm Pharmaceutical Market and Management
MSc Clinical Research and Pharmacovigilance
Diploma/PG Diploma Pharmacy Courses
There are also many diploma courses in Pharmacy that the students can pursue. Pharmacy courses from IGNOU have become popular over the years owing to the demand in the course. Diploma courses tend to be short, career-focused courses that help the students enhance their knowledge in the field. Some of the best Diploma courses in Pharmacy are listed below:
D.Pharma
Diploma in Ayurvedic Pharmacy
Diploma in Pharmaceutical Marketing
Diploma in Drug Store Management
Diploma in Clinical Research and Pharmacovigilance
PG Diploma in Drug Store Management
PG Diploma in Principles of Clinical Pharmacology
PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Management
PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance
PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
PG Diploma in Herbal Products
Certificate Pharmacy Courses
There are many Pharmacy certificate courses that the students can enroll in. The primary purpose of a certificate course is to help the students gain in-depth knowledge in a specialised field in a short period of time. The certificate courses are often provided by industry relevant employers or educational institutions. Given below are some of the top certificate courses in Pharmacy that the students can take:
Industry Certificate in Pharma Product Management
Industry Certificate in Pharmaceutical Technology Transfer
Industry Certificate in Pharmaceutical Packaging
Industry Certificate in Pharmaceutical Process Engineering
Industry Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Technology
Industry Certificate in Pharmacovigilance
Industry Certificate in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Industry Certificate in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Entrepreneurship
Industry Certificate in Pharma Sales and Marketing Management
Professional Certificate In Pharmacovigilance
Safety and Pharmacovigilance Certificate Program
Doctorate Pharmacy Courses
Students seeking careers in research and education can choose from among the several PhD or Doctorate programs offered by universities. Doctoral programs are Research-oriented courses that enable students to learn about the existing research in a field and then further develop in the same field. Some of the popular doctorate courses in Pharmacy are listed below:
Pharm.D
Ph.D Pharmacology
Ph.D Pharmacy
Ph.D Pharmacognosy
Ph.D Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Ph.D Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Ph.D Pharmaceutical Sciences
Ph.D Pharmaceutical Medicine
Ph.D Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry
Ph.D Phytopharmacy & Phytomedicine
Apart from this there are also a number of On-line Pharmacy Courses offered by colleges, like
Online Degree and Diploma Courses
Online Free Courses and Certifications
Online Short Term Courses and Certifications
Online Certification Courses
PHARMACY COURSES ENTRANCE EXAMS
When applying for the Pharmacy course, it is vital that the aspirants research about the entrance exams that are conducted. Entrance exams play an important role in the final merit list that is released by the students. These Pharmacy course entrance exams are a screening process through which the colleges can determine if the students would be a right fit for the course.
Some of the top exams that are conducted for admissions to the different Pharmacy courses in India are NEET, BITSAT, UPSEE, MAH CET, WBJEE, KCET, AP EAMCET, TS EAMCET, GUJCET, GITAM GOT, GCET, HPCET, OJEE, GPAT, CUET, etc.
HIGHER EDUCATION – M.PHARMACY, PHARM.D.
As the quest for knowledge always goes on, opting to pursue a Master’s in Pharmacy is the best option for those seeking higher education. Especially for Pharmacy aspirants who wish to have a career in Research and Development, pursuing M. Pharmacy will increase their expertise and credibility. Some of the most popular institutes providing M. Pharmacy admission are KLE College of Pharmacy (Hubli), Government College of Pharmacy (Bangalore), Madras Medical College (Chennai), etc. These colleges accept scores of entrance tests like GPAT, KLEU AIET, NIPER JEE, etc for admission. The M. Pharmacy eligibility in most institutes also requires a minimum average of 50% in the final year exam of B. Pharmacy.
A professional doctorate course in Pharmacy, Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D), consists of 5 years of academic society and one year of internship. The course trains students in pharmacy practice, clinical pharmacy, and pharmaceutical care. Some of the institutes in India that provide admission in Pharm.D are Jamia Hamdard University (New Delhi), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Mohali), KLE College of Pharmacy (Hubli), etc. Candidates who complete Pharm. D program can get recruited at Health Centres, Medical Dispensing stores, Drug Control Administration, Research, etc.
PHARMACY CAREER OPTIONS
In India, Pharmacy graduates have various job options to go for. Pharmacy, as a field, is well-reputed and reliable and aspirants can avail promising job options with an excellent salary package. The field of pharmacy offers diverse opportunities and plays a crucial role in healthcare, research, and patient well-being in Pharmaceutical, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, Pharmacognosy, Quality Assurance, etc. Some of the possible Pharmacy Career Options in the Government and Private Sector are:
Community pharmacist
Hospital pharmacist
Clinical pharmacist
Pharmacologist
Research scientist
Analytical chemist
Medical Representative
Clinical research associate
Pharmacy manager
Pharmacist in the Government Sector
Drug Inspector
Production and Quality Control
Pharmaceutical Marketing
Medical Underwriting – (medical scribes, medical coders, or medical transcription and may also be required to write medical-related documents, etc.)
Self Employment/ Business Prospects
Drug Store owner
Wholesaler
Pharmaceutical Company
CAREER GROWTH AND SALARY:
India is a major supplier of medications globally, fulfilling over 50% of the world’s vaccine demand. Starting salaries for pharmacy professionals range from INR 2,50,000 to INR 15,00,000 per annum. Core industries include Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Research, and Academia.
There are 92 top Pharmacy colleges in India, 57 are private, whereas 34 are government-owned. The remaining 1 is owned by semi-government institution. Some of the best Pharmacy colleges in India are National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, BITS Pilani, JSS College and many more. Top Pharmacy Colleges in India: Highlights 2024
In summary, pharmacy courses offer a wide spectrum of career paths, making it an exciting field for those interested in Healthcare and Drug-related Sciences.