A Career in Pharmacy in India

The other day I came across this very fascinating definition of a pharmacy and it said ‘ the place where people can actually recognize the handwriting of the doctors and also where the primary doctor resides.’Surprisingly it is true. However, this is not the only aspect of a pharmacy and it consists of a variety of extraordinary chores one may think of. Beginning from the research of a particular drug to the production of various medicines in bulk, the job prospect in the pharmaceutical sector is massive.

If you often aspired to work in the medical field but the thought of operating on a self brought chills down your spine then a career in pharmacy can be the right alternative. The latter part of this article discusses the various career opportunities, eligibility criteria, admission process, educational expenses, various courses, top institutions, and the future career scope in the pharmaceutical industry.

Before proceeding further, one must comprehend the meaning of the pharmaceutical industry and various types of pharmacies.

Pharmaceutical Industry

The industry which deals with the creation, composition, management, and marketing of medicines is basically a pharmaceutical industry. This industry encompasses various aspects such as pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and pharmacy practices. The word pharmacy has widespread acceptance and it is found in almost all the places of civilization.

Let us weigh the pros and cons of working in the pharmaceutical industry.

Pros

• Social Status
• Stable Job
• Good Remuneration
• Diversity of career options
• Growth potential
• Liberation in work

Cons

• Complicated education
• Long hours of work
• Complications in work as professionals are involved
• Great responsibility as no trial and error permitted.

Career Option in Pharmaceuticals in India

The primary thought that crosses one’s mind when a career in pharmacy is concerned is that of a pharmacist. However, this is not the only job in this vast industry. There are various kinds of sectors that hire people acquainted with the field of pharmacy like hospitals, clinical pharmacies, technical pharmacies, research agencies, biotechnology companies, and so on and so forth.

1. Pharmacist

With adequate education and skill, one can become a pharmacist and work as a medical professional. The prospect can commence his/her own pharmacy and specialize in any of the medicines such as homeopathic, ayurvedic, Unani, and so on. The job role basically involves dispensing the medicines prescribed by the doctors to the patients, maintaining stock, collaborating with the doctors, and following the guidelines of the health advisory.

A pharmacist can earn up to  Rs.15,000-20,000 per month at the initial stage and it can rise up to Rs.30,000-40,000 if the factors are favorable such as location, demand and supply, goodwill, business worth, and so on.

2. Dispensary Manager

The government has a dispensary operating in every state and town of the country. The dispensary manager is responsible for the supervision of the various activities taking place at the dispensary premises. The medicines availability and their records are consistent because of these personal.

A dispensary manager can earn up to Rs.10,000-Rs.15,000 in the initial stage and it can increase with time.

3. Chemical Technician

• A chemical technician is a person who looks after the sustenance, expenditure, production, and processing of the equipment which is used for the production of drugs or medicines. The production of medicines deals with a lot of chemical reactions and hence the laboratory equipment comes to be of primary importance. They are the pioneers of the processing units.

A chemical technician earns an average amount of Rs.25,000-Rs.30,000 per month and it may increase with time and experience.

4. Drug Inspector

• The drug inspector is a reputed and well-governed job in the government sector. The drug inspector is responsible for the adequate amount of drug usage in medical companies. There are safety protocols which need to be followed by the manufacturers and this is regulated by the drug inspector.

A drug inspector earns somewhere near Rs.30,000-Rs. 40,000 per month along with the various allowances.

5. Hospital Drug Coordinator:-

The hospital drug coordinator are the professionals responsible for the medical protocols interpreted in the hospitals. They are the subordinates when it comes to regulating the medical requirements in a hospital. They look after the medicinal needs of the hospital patients and provide the same at the right time to the beneficiary.

A hospital unit coordinator or hospital drug coordinator can earn up to Rs.10,000-Rs.15,000 per month at the initial stage.

6. Research Officer

A research officer, as the name suggests, is the person involved in the research and development of the field of medicines by incorporating the invention of modern medicine and regulating search and research operations with the objective of coming up with necessary drugs.

The research officers’ job is a decent and well-paid job and one can earn up to Rs.15,000-Rs.20,000 per month.

7. Scientist

• A scientist, as we all know, is the person who actually takes the trouble of going through a lot of experiments with the help of his/her wisdom and brings in new and productive changes in our lives. A scientist in the pharmaceutical industry is exceptionally significant for the composition and invention of new medicines. The scientists work closely with researchers.

A scientist can earn up to Rs.40,000-Rs.50,000 per month based on his/her expertise and contribution.

Eligibility Criteria

The students need to fulfil certain standards to be eligible to enrol themselves in the undergraduate courses in the distinct institutes. The entrance exam is also one of the prerequisites for enrolment in good colleges. Hence, the primary provisions to be eligible for appearing in the entrance exams are enumerated below.

• 10+2from a recognized board
• Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Mathematics as compulsory subjects
• Minimum 50% marks
• Minimum age 17 years
• Maximum age 25 years

If the students possess the above requirements then they can register themselves to appear for the entrance exams.

Admission Process

The admission process is usually based on two possibilities and the establishments usually grant admittance if one can fulfil any of the mentioned alternatives.

1. Higher Secondary Marks

Many colleges enrol students in their institution based on the marks that they secure in the higher secondary i.e. 10+2 level. If the score is more than the cut-off provided by the institute then one can get immediate acceptance without having to go through the entrance test.

Entrance Tests

Every institution has a predefined set of norms and procedures to enrol the students in their institution. Some of the well-established and well-renowned institutions conduct entrance tests every year intending to bring in promising students. The entrance tests are conducted at the state level for government colleges and private colleges may conduct their own entrance exams. There are numerous entrance tests for various institutions and they are enlisted below.

• Delhi Common Entrance Test
• Karnataka Common Entrance Test
• Maharashtra Common Entrance Test
• Uttarakhand State Entrance Exam
• West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination
• Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test

Educational Expenses

The educational expenses vary based on the institutions and the courses that one may opt for. In most government colleges, the fees are reasonable and one can avail of most of it by applying for the various scholarships available in the colleges. Nonetheless, private colleges are also increasing and they are providing quality education in adequate amounts. Hence, one must choose wisely and pursue higher education by identifying all the alternatives and one’s financial position.

The government colleges may charge somewhere near Rs.30,000-Rs.80,000 whereas in the private colleges one may need to pay somewhere near Rs.50,000-Rs.1,50,000 per year. If the course duration is long one should opt for government colleges as they are feasible and provide quality education.

Various Courses

The job profile and the course opted for it are practically correlated with each other. The aspirant has several courses lined up for them as per their interests and they can choose accordingly. Some of the most prominent and prevalent courses in pharmacy are enlisted below.

Undergraduate:

• Bachelor of Pharmacy [ B Pharm with or without honours ]
• Bachelor of Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Bachelor of Pharmacy in Pharmaceutics
• Bachelor of Pharmacy in Pharmacognosy
• Bachelor of Pharmacy in Pharmacology
• Bachelor of Pharmacy in Unani
• Bachelor of Ayurvedic Pharmacy

Post Graduate:

• MBA in Pharma Technology
• Master of Pharmacy
• Master of Pharmacy in Biotechnology
• Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy
• Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Practice and Research
• Master of Science in Pharmacy
• PhD. [ Pharmacy ]

Top Institutions

The institutions are extremely fundamental in shaping the attributes and perception of their prospects. The refinement in the quality of the thousands of students passing every year is consistent for every establishment due to the effort that they put in for the maintenance of their goodwill. There has been an upswing in the number of pharmacy colleges in India which has risen from 1425 to 2694 in the last five years. This increase has been prevalent in private institutions as well as government institutions. The aspirant can choose the best-suited institution for himself/herself by weighing the alternatives of fees, hostel, reputation, and history of the establishment. Some of the well-known institutions in the field of pharmacy are enlisted below.

Government Colleges:

• Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
• Punjab University, Chandigarh
• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and ResearchSAS Nagar
• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad
• Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar
• Punjab University, Patiala
• Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara
• Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, New Delhi
• Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh
• MaharshiDayanand University, Rohtak
• Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam 
• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata
• Madras Medical College, Chennai
• Jadavpur University, Kolkata
• Goa College of Pharmacy, Panaji

Private Colleges:

• Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 
• Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
• Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal
• Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra
• JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysore
• SRM College of Pharmacy, Kattankulathur
• Poona College of Pharmacy, Pune
• Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Noida
• Nirma University, Ahmedabad
• Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai
• Lovely Professional University, Phagwara
• Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Rajpura
• LM College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad

Career Scope

With about five lakhs and fifty thousand pharmacies in India at present, the pharmaceutical industry is bound to increase two to three-fold in the coming years. The increase in pharmacies and pharmacists has brought about a change in the job prospects available for the aspirant in this field. The demand for pharma graduates has been increasing due to the adverse effect of the health crisis the world is facing at present due to Covid-19. The intervention of technology in the medical domain has brought about a positive change in the employment charts. The concept of E-Pharmacy has already been introduced and in the coming years, this sector will be able to see profound growth.