If you are particularly fascinated by the intersection of healthcare and technology, you are an excellent candidate for the position of Pharmacist. It is a discipline that is both energetic and versatile.
Pharmacists have played an important role in altering the pharmaceutical business and increasing our quality of life since the dawn of modern medicine. Today, the pharmaceutical market is one of the most thriving in the world, and according to Statista, the business has more than doubled its income.
Achieving a Pharmacist is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process that includes years of dedicated schooling, internships, and ultimately a step into the professional world. Pharmacy courses, such as Diploma in Pharmacy, BPharma, and others, enable their participants to study drugs, their dose, and composition in order to cure various diseases in individuals.
People commonly think that pharmacists can only work in pharmacies, dispensaries, and medical stores. This, however, is not the case. A chemist in the shape of a trader must similarly maintain a balance between his personal well-being and the well-being of his clients. In his case, his customers are not regular people, but individuals who are fighting for their lives. In any case, the chemist's function is seen as critical and fundamental in the entire process of treating a patient.
Who is a Pharmacist?
Pharmacists are healthcare specialists that ensure that patients receive the most therapeutic benefit from their medication. A pharmacist's job includes more than just buying and selling drugs. They work in clinical and pharmacological research, as well as diagnosing injuries and diseases in different cultures and nations. A pharmacist should be scientifically inclined, a lifelong learner, and detail-oriented.
How to Become a Pharmacist?
For all individuals interested in studying pharmacy, it is recommended that they obtain a diploma or bachelor's degree in pharmacy.
Step 1- Take the Science Stream in your 10+2
You can study Physics Chemistry Biology (PCB), Physics Chemistry Mathematics (PCM), or Physics Chemistry Biology Mathematics (PCBM).
Step 2- Complete a Bachelor’s Degree
After 10+2, you can follow any of the degrees listed below from the scientific stream. These courses range in terms of length, content, possibilities, and degree.
1. Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm)
If you want to operate your own drug shop and practice pharmacy in India, you should obtain a diploma in pharmacy, which is a two-year study with a minimum prerequisite of 10+2 in science. In addition, students obtaining a diploma can get lateral entry into the second year of a Bachelor of Pharmacy program based on merit.
2. Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm)
If you want to work in the pharmaceutical industry, such as Sun Pharmaceutical, Lupin Ltd, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and others, you must have a Bachelor's degree in pharmacy. The bachelor's degree program involves both academic and practical training in the pharmaceutical business.
Step 3- Pursue Postgraduate Education in Pharmacy
As a post-graduate option, you can choose from the courses mentioned below. Both will help you specialize and develop knowledge in one or two disciplines. The curriculum, research possibilities, and degree of these courses vary.
1. Master’s Degree in Pharmacy (M.Pharm)
Candidates who have obtained their Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy are eligible to pursue a Masters's degree in Pharmacy. In Research and Development, someone with a Master's degree in pharmacy has an edge over pharmacy graduates. A few scholarships and other financial aid are also available in the field of pharmacy. In addition, one must choose one of the 10 specialties to pursue their master's degree.
The specializations are:
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Pharmaceutics |
It is the discipline of pharmacy that deals with the process of turning drugs into medicines. |
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Pharmacology |
It is the study of medicines and drugs including their action, their use, and their effects on the body. |
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Pharmacy Practice |
This includes making and distributing medicines, and modern services related to healthcare, including clinical services, reviewing medications for safety and providing drug information. |
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Pharmacognosy |
It is the branch of knowledge concerned with medicinal drugs obtained from various plants or other natural resources. |
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Pharmaceutical Chemistry |
This field deals with the composition and preparation of chemical compounds that are used in medical diagnoses and therapies. |
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Pharmaceutical Analysis |
The branch of practical chemistry that involves a series of processes for the identification, determination, and purification of a substance. It separates the components of a mixture and determines the structure of various chemical compounds. |
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Pharmaceutical Biotechnology |
In this field, principles of biotechnology are applied to the development of drugs and medicines. |
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Industrial Pharmacy |
This involves manufacturing, development, marketing, and distribution of drug/medicinal products including quality assurance of these activities. |
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Regulatory Affairs |
This area focuses on the safety and efficiency of products in areas like veterinary medicines, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, medical devices, agrochemicals, cosmetics, and complementary medicines. |
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Quality Assurance |
The focus is to maintain the desired level of quality in the products and the process of delivery. |
Step 4- Higher Studies - Pursue Ph.D. in Pharmacy- Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D)
After completing 10+2, one can pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D), a six-year program that involves five years of clinical and community-based theoretical study, ward rounds, and a one-year internship in hospitals. Students obtaining a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree may apply for lateral entry into the fourth year of the Pharm.D program based on merit.
While this is an optional step, it is extremely advantageous for anyone seeking a career in research. Students interested in pursuing a Doctorate in Pharmacy (Ph.D.) should have a strong interest in research. The minimal need for a Ph.D. is a master's degree in pharmacy. The program must last at least three years.
Ph.D. programs use an integrated learning method. Aside from coursework and thesis research, students are required to participate in journal clubs, seminars, publish research articles, and engage in student-student and student-faculty interactions.
Skills Required for a Pharmacist
To be a successful pharmacist, you must possess the following abilities:
- Ability to multitask: From inputting data into a computer database to accurately distributing prescriptions to explaining the administration of a certain treatment, such experts may be required to do a variety of tasks. As a result, businesses favor applicants who can multitask while maintaining high standards of quality.
- Integrity: If a pharmacist feels that prescription medication may create drug interactions, he or she should consult with the doctor to ensure that the medication is safe for the patient.
- Computer skills: These professionals must have basic computer abilities in order to get information from a medication database and update patient records.
- Communication skills: They must be able to communicate effectively in order to teach patients about medication dosages and to obtain further information from a doctor.
- Detail-orientedness: pharmacists must correctly follow a doctor's prescription and offer safe and right medications to patients. This requires attention to detail.
- Understanding of clinical pharmaceuticals: In order to flourish in the pharmaceutical sector, a professional must have a thorough understanding of the most recent drugs and clinical theories. It is also preferable to have a thorough grasp of how drugs are made.
Pharmacist Career Scope
To be more specific, pharmacy is the science and method of preparing, studying, and distributing pharmaceuticals. Pharmacy as a profession teaches people how to produce medications and propose amounts that patients should take in order to recover from disease or stay well. Pharmacy is a recession-proof job with high earning potential, fantastic benefits, flexibility, and room for advancement. Today, the scope of pharmacy covers worldwide healthcare, which has given birth to clinical research, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and marketing in order to improve or maintain a patient's quality of life and supply them with pharmacological information.
There is an insatiable need for pharmaceutical specialists. They work in community pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, the pharmaceutical business, mail-order pharmacy centers, managed care organizations, and government agencies. The pay scale varies according to the sector of work selected, geographical region, job responsibilities, talents, and experience.
Pharmacists work in various settings:
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Pharmaceutical Industry |
Pharmacists work in a variety of settings in the pharmaceutical sector. Their work is typically behind the scenes, with no direct contact with patients, yet it contributes significantly to the healthcare sector. Pharmacists are mostly involved in medication development and production. They work in areas like as R&D, production & manufacturing, packaging, quality control, quality assurance, sales & marketing, and regulatory affairs. |
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Practice Settings |
Pharmacy technicians serve as a key interface between doctors, nurses, and patients. Community pharmacists can work at a medical shop, pharmacy, or as a druggist. They may also consider possibilities within a hospital, where they are near to the patients and where physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals communicate with them about drugs, surgical procedures, and other patient care items. Clinical pharmacy, which contributes to drug research and provides medication and toxicity information, is a popular career path for many. |
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Hospitals |
Pharmacy graduates play a significant role and can make a good living as pharmacists at hospital pharmacies. |
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Education and Research |
Some pharmacists pursue chances in research, such as creating new medications and assessing their effectiveness, teaching, and community service. Pharmacists in academia may work as college professors, teaching lectures and doing research in a variety of fields. |
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Marketing & Sales |
Pharmaceutical sales and marketing is regarded as a highly technical sector and hence one of the finest in terms of benefits. |
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Regulatory Bodies |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the regulatory agency in charge of overseeing and enforcing the rules and regulations for the pharmaceutical and drug industries. Some of the positions available include Drug Inspector, Assistant Drug Controller, Deputy Drug Controller, State Drug Controller, and Drug Controller of India. |
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Research and Development |
The pharmaceutical sector is one that relies heavily on research and development. Researchers in this discipline are in great demand for novel drug research, process development, formulation, clinical trial development, and toxicity investigations. |
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Pharmacists in Other Settings |
Pharmacists can also work in other divisions of the Drug Control Department. Clinical Research Organizations (CROs) provide several possibilities for pharmacists in areas like quality assurance, data administration, bioanalytical services, and report writing, among others. |
Pharmacist Salary Prospects
Among scientific students, being a pharmacist is a well-known career. A pharmacist makes an average yearly income of INR 3-4.5 Lakhs, which may rise to INR 12 Lakhs based on employment experience, whereas a pharmacist who practices earns approximately INR 8-10 Lakhs.
Employees at private hospitals and multinational pharmaceutical businesses earn far more than government employees. Those who own private businesses make substantial profits based on their talent, expertise, experience, and popularity in the surrounding communities.
Top Recruiters
- Cipla
- Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
- Sun Pharmaceutical
- Baxter
- Novartis
- Abbott India
- Glenmark
- Piramal Enterprises
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