Career Guide for Pharmacy Studies

Pharmacy, which means drugs, is a branch related to the services concerned with health care. Pharmacists specialize in dispensing drugs prescribed by physicians and providing information to patients about their side effects and use. They must understand the composition of medicines, as well as the laws that regulate their manufacture and sale. They order and store medicines, keeping them safe, pure and effective. Pharmacists can also engage in research concerning the synthesis of new drugs, clinical testing of the effects of such drugs on animals and humans after obtaining the required license from the drug control authorities. As the pharmaceutical companies are witnessing a healthy growth, the need for pharmacists is also growing simultaneously.

Courses & Eligibility:

The various courses offered under Pharmacy are:

• Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm).
• Diploma in Pharmacy (Unani)- D.Pharm (Unani).
• Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm).
• Bachelor of Pharmacy (Unani)- B.Pharm (Unani).
• Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm).
• Ph.D. Courses.
• Diploma in Vet.Pharmacy (D.V.P.).
• Drug Store Management Course.
• Integrated Post Graduate Diploma In Clinical Research and Pharma-covigilance.
• Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Trial Management.

For admissions in diploma courses, candidates are required to pass their class X with 55% marks. For admissions in the 4-year bachelor’s programme (B.Pharm) students must pass 10+2 in science stream with physics, chemistry, maths and biology as the core subjects. For the 2-year M.Pharm programme one has to complete B.Pharm from any recognized board or university. After completing M.Pharm, one can opt for a Ph.D programme. Admissions in these aforementioned courses are made through an entrance test conducted by the respective boards or universities.

Career Prospects:

Most pharmacists work in community pharmacies. The retail stores, which are owned either by the pharmacists themselves or by drugstore chains, sell only medical and sickroom supplies, while others carry a wide range of items, from health supplies to laundry detergent and stationery. Pharmacists are also hired by state and central government departments in the field of Health and Welfare, the Pest Control Division of Agriculture, Provincial Research Councils, the Department of National Defense etc. Some pharmacists work in hospital or nursing home pharmacies. They buy, inspect, store, and distribute drugs. They often keep drug information libraries and advise the medical and nursing staffs about new drugs. Other pharmacists work in the pharmaceutical industry, which includes companies that research, manufacture, or sell medicines. They can also be employed teachers in colleges and universities. A small number work in specialized areas, such as writing or editing books, articles, or advertisements about drugs.

Remuneration:

The average starting salary of a pharmacists ranges between Rs.6000 – 10000 per month in government hospitals and clinics. Professionals engaged in private practice earn handsome returns depending upon their professional reputation. Those working in private pharmaceutical companies receive about Rs 12000 to Rs 20000, provided they are experienced. Medical representatives can earn around Rs 10000 to Rs 15000 per month.