I want to pursue Bachelor's in Pharmacy

I have completed my 12th. I want to pursue Bachelor's in Pharmacy. What are the career opportunities? Is there a need for pharmacy graduates and post-graduates and higher options in pharmacy?

Admission to B.Pharm is through state-level entrance exams conducted along with engineering/medical entrance tests. Pharmacy graduates work often as manufacturing chemists, Analytical Chemists, Drug Inspectors, Narcotic Inspectors and Probationary Officers in banks etc. Even large hospitals prefer graduates for managing their pharmacies. But to join pharmaceutical companies as Executives, one needs a higher education. A two-year Master's in Pharmacy (M.Pharm.) can be done after completing B.Pharm. Teaching and research activities usually require Ph.D.

Picture Credit : Google

What is the career in Pharmacy?



Pharmacy, also known as Pharmacology, is the study of preparing, mixing, dispensing or compounding drugs, pills, tablets, ointments or injections. It is an age-old profession that has been part of all ancient civilisations. Today, this field has grown by leaps and bounds, moving on from traditional roles and providing critical inputs to various fields - clinical services, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, providing drug information, manufacturing, product development, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, teaching etc.



 



What are the career prospects?



The field of pharmacy offers a plethora of career opportunities from manufacturing pharmaceutical products and developing the techniques of production to executing quality control of the medicines, Pharmacists are hired by pharmaceutical industries, government departments, colleges and universities, hospitals, investigative agencies and research institutes. They can also find jobs in food and cosmetic industries.



Required skills




  • Proficiency in R and D: The field of pharmacy involves researching on the development and the progress of manufacturing the drugs. You must be aware of the developments and advancements in the field.

  • Technical knowledge: You must know how to operate computers and other electronic gadgets used in medicine production

  • Logic and analysis: Thinking and good observation skills are important

  • Communication skills: Good communication skills are needed to convey safety guidelines and general information about the product to the users.

  • Patience Research work requires patience as it can take several years to complete.



Where you can study




  • University of Delhi: Bachelors in Pharmacy (B.Pharm). Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharma), Master of Science in Pharmacy (M.Sc. Pharmacy)

  • University of Madras: M.Sc. (Pharmacy): M.D. (Pharmacology): and M.Sc (Pharmacology)

  • Uttarakhand Technical University: B.Pharm; M.Pharm. (Quality Assurance); and M.SC (Pharmacy)

  • Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER),Chandigarh: M.D. (Pharmacology) and M.SC (Pharmacy)

  • Kendriya Vishwavidyalaya, Tamil Nadu: M.Sc (Pharmacy) and D.Pharm



Abroad:




  • Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, the U.S.: Master of Science (M.S.) in Pharmaceutical Sciences and M.S. in Pharmacology

  • University of Southern California, the U.S.: M.S. in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy

  • Duquesne University, the U.S.: M.S. in Pharmacy Administration.



 



Picture Credit : Google


I need to answer to get admission for Master’s of Pharmacy


I am doing Pharmacy (third year). Please suggest various exams that I need to answer to get admission for Master’s of Pharmacy and any good colleges for this in India? What jobs can I apply for with a Master’s degree? I would also like to know about Pharm. D.



Masters in Pharmacy as a post-graduate academic degree is for 2 years spread over four semesters. Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D) is a six-year programme for which eligibility is 10+2. It includes five years of academics and one year of training sessions. But for those who have completed B. Pharm., the duration of Pharm. D reduces to three years, which includes one compulsory year of residency or internship.



Institutes offering these courses are: University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chandigarh, Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai; IITBHU, etc.



Admission process for these courses varies across colleges. Most institutes offering these courses select students based on their performance in a relevant entrance test. Some Institutes admit students on the basis of marks scored by them in Bachelor’s degree programme, while some conduct their own entrance tests.



Some of the major entrance examinations are: GPAT (Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test); UPSEE Pharmacy (Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Examination); BITS HD Pharmacy (Birla Institute of Technology Higher Degree Pharmacy), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Joint Entrance Exam (NIPERJEE).



Both courses have their own significance. If one wants to work in production of drugs, M. Pharm. In pharmaceutics/pharmaceutical analysis/industrial pharmacy is the best choice. If one is willing to learn and work in clinical and hospital setting then M. Pharm. In pharmacology/pharmacy practice and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D) is the best choice.



 



Picture Credit : Google