Notes on the Career Scope for Pharmacy Professionals in India

From ancient times Pharmacy is known as a branch of healthcare services. Today, the discipline of Pharmacy has made enormous progress in production and research. It has attained independent status as pharmaceutical sciences encompassing all the stages in product development of a drug, from its discovery, identification, purity, development, action, safety, formulation, application, quality control, packaging, storage, marketing, stability studies etc. Thus, today’s pharmaceutical professional is a drug expert in a true sense.

In India Pharmacy education is two-tier system after higher secondary passed with PCM or PCB both types of students are eligible for any of the two courses, D. Pharm. (Diploma in Pharmacy) and B. Pharm. (Degree in Pharmacy). All Institutes conducting courses in Pharmacy are regulated by two bodies namely, the All India Council for Technical Education (AlCTE) and the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI).

Scope for Diploma Students

i. Community Pharmacy (retail shop)

ii. Wholesale pharmacy

iii. Pharmacist in Hospital

iv. Lab Technician in degree teaching institutes

v. Higher Education- direct admission to B. Pharm. II yr (Lateral Entry)

vi. Marketing (Medical representative)

vii. Production assistant

Scope for Pharmacy Graduates

Graduate pharmacists have opportunities in the field of production, marketing, regulatory affairs as well as academia. Government and Private sectors are open with excellent job opportunities and pay packages.

i) Hospital Pharmacy

A Registered Pharmacist can work in hospitals or drug stores. Retail Pharmacy in U.S.A. and Canada is a highly demanded opportunity. This facility is set in many hospitals in the country. This is a key position and the pharmacist plays an important role in dispensing /compounding the prescription, maintaining patient’s medical history and all patient profile.

ii) Community Pharmacy

Pharmacist is a link between production, patient and physician.

Other responsibilities of Pharmacists:

i) Patient counselling regarding the use of the drugs and dosage forms, storage condition, etc.

ii) Providing detailed drug and product, storage and handling information.

iii) Detail history of patient and genetic problems

iv) Maintaining patient records

v) Providing self-diagnostic kits for highly sensitive patient for disorders like diabetes, hypertension etc.

iii) Academics

After 5th pay scale and AICTE rules and regulation, most of Post Graduate candidates are choosing academic field as profession because of job satisfaction, facility for higher education and research, social status and comfort. Promotion scheme in academia is well defined by the regulatory bodies with a definite service length i.e., Lecturer, Sr. Lecturer, Reader, Associate Professor, Professor, Principal/ Director.

iv) Higher Education

There are many opportunities in higher education M.Pharm in various branches are sanctioned by AICTE in those institutes, which have prescribed facilities for the same. Branches of Master in Pharmacy – Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Biotechnology etc.

v) Drug Inspector

The Central and State Governments are empowered to appoint Drugs Inspectors and to assign them definite areas. Drug Inspectors are deemed to be public servants and are officially sub-ordinate to Licensing Authority. Drug inspectors are important component of drug regulatory activity.

vi) Production

A pharmacy graduate can work as a production person, chemist, Production Manager, officer, executive, manager, Director, President, Vice-president etc. involved in the production of dosage form and policies, research in different areas. Pharmacy professionals also have opportunities in production of ayurvedic preparations and veterinary products as well as bulk drugs and cosmetics.

vii) Research

After Graduation a student can opt for M Pharm and PhD courses. Personnel with adequate experience in research are in great demand in the various areas of Pharmacy; Novel Drug delivery system, Quality control, New Drug Discovery Research, Designing of Dosage Form, Process Development (P & D), Contract Research etc.

Formulation and Development, Biological Products, Clinical Trials and Bioequivalence.

viii) Analysis and Testing

Excellent quality and purity of drugs /dosage forms are required for human use. Identification and characterization of these are required in production, storage and during the handling of finished product. Quality control and quality assurance have assumed enormous importance in view of current GMP regulations.

ix) Marketing

Marketing is one of the challenging jobs in the field of Pharmacy because it is different as compared to other business. The Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing is a highly technical field and offers excellent opportunities for the pharmacy graduates. MBA degree after B. Pharm. enhances job opportunities.

x) Regulatory Affairs

Drug Control Administration is the main regulatory body governing and implementing the rules and regulations for the pharmaceutical industry. The job opportunities for Pharmacy graduates are excellent but challenging in this field. In the current scenario pharmacy graduates and postgraduates are in high demand for patent filing and global expansion of drug manufacturing activities.

Pharmaceutical Journalism

Pharmaceutical journalism has great potential. This requires specialist technical personnel to cover various aspects related to the field of Pharmacy.

i) Consultancy

Most of experienced pharmacy professionals are providing consultancy to Industry and also earning a handsome amount in hand and popularity. Consultancy services in Pharmacy are offered in various fields i.e. regulatory affairs, manufacturing, analytical services, documentation, approvals, research, marketing policies, etc.

ii) Scope Abroad

In the field of Pharmacy, India is one the countries producing many Pharmacy Graduates. Many countries have demand for qualified Pharmacy professionals including U.S.A., Canada, European Countries like U.K., France, Germany, African Countries like S. Africa, Nigeria, Yemen, Gulf Countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, South East Asian Countries like Singapore, Korea, Japan, etc. and the Australian continent including New Zealand. A registered pharmacist commands very high salary and repute in developed countries including USA and UK.

Pharmacy Graduates have are placement opportunities in Higher Education, Druggist and Chemist, Councilor, Retailer, Pharmacist, Manufacturing and Clinical Pharmacy.