Pharmacy Career Course Institutions in India and Abroad

If there weren't pharmacists, there won't be drugs that the doctors could prescribe. Pharmacy has everything to do with drugs - right from their origin, preparation, effects and side- effects, dispensing and laws concerning medicines. Thus, the myth that all those who nurse ambitions of becoming doctors, but fail, end up in pharmacy, can not be more far - off from the truth. With the growth in science and technology, the improved understanding of diseases, their causes and possible remedies, have made Pharmacy a field full of potential and lots of challenges

The pharma industry in our country is nearly hundred years old. Today, the market comprises over 25,000 manufacturing units; one - fifth of them involved in making bulk drugs, according to one government statistics. Now with liberalisation, there are many more job opportunities opening up, especially in multinational pharmaceutical companies. The fact that the industry has been showing nearly 10 percent growth, much higher than the overall industrial growth, indicates the potential it has

A student can move on to this line as early as after 10+2. With a mere pass in 10+2, one can seek admission to a diploma course. But in order to apply for a degree course the student will need 50 percent in the optional subjects. Although graduation in pharmacy is good enough, a post - graduation increases the employment chances. The career prospects are greatly determined by the specialisation you do at the post - graduation level. There are a number of branches in Pharmacy - Pharmacology, Pharma Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharma Marketing and quality assurance

The government figures show that there are more than 300 institutions imparting diploma, to nearly 20,000 students every year and over 100 institutions offering degree to more than 5,000 students. An interest in life - sciences is a necessary qualification to specialise in this field.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Pharmacy Council of India is responsible for prescription, regulation and maintenance of minimum educational standards for the training of pharmacists uninformaly in the country. The Pharmacy Council of India is a statutory body constituted under the Pharmacy Act of 1948. It also prescribes the syllabus and norms, for the institutions and the regulations for diploma course in Pharmacy and undertakes the registration of pharmacists

Pharmacy students generally find good employment in hospitals, industry and research labs. In hospitals, both private and government, they are incharge of the procurement, stocking, preparation of dispensing of drugs and health accessories. They keep an eye on the use, composition and effect of drugs. They advise the medical staff on the selection and the side effects of various medicines. In case of pharmaceutical industries, the pharmacists are involved in the formulation and manufacture of drugs. On the basis of the research done by the pharmacists, medical drugs are manufactured. This is a very important field because a great deal of care has to be taken to ensure the correct composition of drugs. Another areas is documentation which involves recording the complete details of drugs. This is an important segment, since any investigation into a drug goes back to documentation

Freshers are taken as trainees where an average salary of about Rs. 5,000 can be expected. Then one becomes an executive, assistant manager, deputy manager and manager, where the salary can be upto Rs. 25,000 per month. Basically, the openings are in the formulations and developing are in the manufacturing section or in the quality control section

Job Opportunities
Industries : Involved in formulation as well as production of medicines.
Stores : Pharmacy stores in hospitals or wholesale and retail outlets.
Product Management :With an MBA as head of the managment team.
Quality Controller : Checks if manufacture of medicines conform to set standard.
Drug Inspector :Checks if manufacturing units adhere to government regulations.
Medical Representatives : Interacting with doctors and selling medicines.
Lectures : In educational Institutions.
R&D : In research institutes involved in the development on new medicines.

A Checklist For Aspiring Pharmacist
A keen interest in life sciences
Should be good in biology and chemistry
Should be interested in laboratory work
Should have research mentality
Loads of patience and a positive bent of mind.
Should be good at team work.