Pandemic or no pandemic, pharmaceutical sector is always vibrant and pharmacy jobs are always in demand. People fall ill and take medicines to recover from their illness. Even healthy people take nutritional and immunity building supplements. From this analogy, we can understand importance of pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy jobs in this contemporary world.

As you can see everybody is waiting for a vaccine which can protect them from catching Corona virus. It is taking long as developing a medicine or vaccine requires long experimentation and trials. Any of these has to be tried and tested to become sure that it produces the desired result and doesn't harm the users. The process of developing a formulation for medicine and vaccine inter alia is a pharmaceutical process and by studying pharmaceutical science, you too can be a contributor in this.

Pharmaceutical science and pharmacy, though inter related, can't be a replacement for each other. Pharmaceutical scientists with their knowledge of subjects like chemistry, biology and biotechnology; come out with formulations for medicines in solid, liquid and gaseous forms. They play a prominent role in improving and maintaining human health by researching and developing reliable, accessible and effective medical treatments. Pharmaceutical scientists carry the understanding of medicines on body, mind and their health. Pharmaceutical scientists create new drugs, therapies, and approaches to maximize benefit of established therapies.

Pharmacists are directly involved in patient care and work with existing drugs. As healthcare professionals they provide valuable advice on safe and effective use of medicines and monitor effects of drugs as prescribed by a doctor. They are involved in patient care by performing their duties at pharma manufacturing units,hospitals, medicine stores and as support staff to doctors and medicinal experts. Pharmacists are also known as chemists or druggists.

Important institutes in pharmaceutical sciences: It will be good to know about different organizations which have a role to play in our country.

Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India: Department of Pharmaceuticals was created on the 1st of July in the year 2008 under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The objective of the department is to give greater focus and thrust on the development of pharmaceutical sector in the country and to regulate various complex issues related to pricing and availability of medicines at affordable prices, research & development, protection of intellectual property rights and international commitments related to pharmaceutical sector. It has agencies named Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Rajasthan Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. working as public sector undertakings. National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority also comes under this department.

Pharmacy Council of India: Our parliament had passed Pharmacy Act in 1948. As per provisions of this act Pharmacy Council of India was established as statutory body for regulating Pharmacy Education in the Country for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist and regulating the profession and practice of Pharmacy. It also maintains a Central Register of Pharmacists. Its websites carries a list of approved colleges for conducting Diploma and Bachelors courses in pharmacy.

National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER): NIPER has been established as per NIPER Act 1998. The vision of NIPER is to serve as a leading global institution in the field of higher learning and research in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Management. It has centres at Ahmedabad, Guwahati, SAS Nagar (Near Mohali, Punjab), Hajipur, Kolkata and Raebareili. NIPER has collaborations with well-known institutes like Harvard Medical School and John Hopkins University in United States. Liverpool John Moores University in United Kingdom among others.

Courses and Educational requirements: As a specialised discipline study of pharmacy and related subjects can be made after you complete your SSC or 10+2. Many of the students go for Diploma in Pharmacy, commonly known as D.Pharma.

Diploma in Pharmacy is a two years course to which students having passed 10+2 with science subjects are eligible. This diploma is designed to familiarize candidates with the basic concepts of pharmaceutical science. The course provides the minimum essential qualification to get registered as a Pharmacist in India & operate Retail/ Wholesale & Community Pharmacy and employment as Hospital Pharmacist.

The area of Pharmaceutical Science or Pharmacy is open to only science students i.e. students who have completed their 10+2 with Physics, Biology and Chemistry. On the basis of this qualification one may apply for D.Pharma. or an undergraduate degree in Pharmaceutical science or Pharmacy. An undergraduate qualification in Pharmacy may come in the form of Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharma) while usually a B.Sc. degree is offered in Pharmaceutical science. Postgraduate courses may have nomenclatures as M.Pharma. M.Sc., M.S. or M.Tech. These courses are mostly on academic or research side. M.B.A. with specialization in pharmaceutical management is also available. There are enough research opportunities in Pharmaceutical science and interested candidates may enroll for a Ph.D in the subject.

Admission process
Different states conduct joint entrance examinations for various undergraduate courses at recognized universities and institutes within their state. Admission to B.Pharma may also be covered under this. Many universities such as Devi Ahilya Vishvavidyalaya, Indore conduct their own entrance procedure by way of Common Entrance Test (CET) or Common Admission Process (CAP) etc. Questions are asked from physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics subjects.

Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) is conducted by National Testing Agency for admission to M.Pharma courses at various recognized institutes. Candidates having completed 4 years B.Pharma course are considered eligible to apply. It is an online test of 3 hours with 125 questions from physical chemistry, physical Pharmacy, organic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, phar-macology, pharmacognosy, pharmaceutical analysis, biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, pathophysiology, bio pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, clinical pharmacy and the rapeutics, human anatomy and physiology, pharmaceutical engineering, pharmaceutical management, pharmaceutical jurisprudence, dispensing and hospital pharmacy.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- University Grants Commission- National Eligibility Test (CSIRUGC NET)- Qualifying this test enable candidates to pursue research programmes and is held twice a year by National Testing Agency. It is also a prerequisite for being awarded Junior Research Fellowships (JRF).

NIPER whose name has been mentioned above conducts two separate tests for admission to postgraduate and doctoral courses available at its centres. These tests are known as NIPER JEE and NIPER JEE Ph.D. NIPER JEE has a common paper for all Masters Programs including M.B.A. (Pharm.). The question paper consists of 200 objectives multiple type choice questions. The level of questions is of B.Pharma. and M. Sc. (relevant field). A few questions are from general aptitude. Duration of the examination is 2 hours and it is computer based. For MBA (Pharma.). shortlisted candidates on the basis of written test are called for group discussion and interview.

For NIPER JEE Ph.D also here is only one objective type question paper. However number of questions here is 170, from are as such as Chemical Sciences; Biological Sciences and; Pharmaceutical Sciences and total marks allotted are 85. The question paper in this case is of the level of M.S. (Pharm.); M.Pharm.; M.Tech. (Pharm.); M.V.Sc.; M.D. and M.Sc. (in relevant discipline) level. Each discipline will also have questions from general pharmaceutical sciences and general aptitude. Duration of this online examination is 2 hours.

Candidates successful in written test under NIPER JEE Ph.D are required to appear for interview and final score is prepared by joining the marks obtained both in written test and interview.

Subjects of study: As per syllabus prescribed by the Pharmacy Council in India at undergraduate level following subjects are covered- human anatomy and physiology, pharmaceutical analysis, remedial biology, pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical organic and inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, pathophysiology, computer applications in pharmacy, biotechnology, biochemistry, environmental science, physical pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical microbiology, pharmaceutical engineering, medicinal chemistry. At postgraduate level you go deeper into the above subjects with particular focus on pharmacognosy and phytochemistry, industrial pharmacy, pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics, herbal drug technology, quality assurance, pharmacy practice, novel drug delivery system, biostatistics, research methodology, social and preventive pharmacy, pharma-marketing management pharmaceutical regulatory science pharmacovigilance, computer aided drug design, cell and molecular biology, cosmetic science, experimental pharmacology, advanced instrumentation techniques, dietary supplements and nutraceuticals.

Where to study
Given below is an indicative list (in no particular order) of universities which have diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in pharmacy or Pharmaceutical sciences-

NIPER centres are among the best places to study or to pursue Ph.D in Pharmaceutical sciences. Some of the programmes may be common at these centres while some are exclusive to a particular centre. Eligibility criteria for seening admission to different branches of Pharmaceutical sciences is not uniform. For example for M.S. Pharm in medicinal chemistry you need to have either B.Pharma or M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry. For M.S. Pharma in Pharmacology and Toxicology, B.Pharma or B.V.Sc. or M.B.B.S. will do. For MBA (Pharma) at NIPER, candidates with B.Pharma. or B.Tech (Chemical Engg. or equivalent) or M.Sc. (Chemical /Life Sciences) are considered eligible.

The Doctoral research programme of NIPER is classified into the following three disciplines- Chemical Sciences which includes departments of i) Medicinal Chemistry ii) Natural Products iii) Pharma coinformatics iv) Pharmaceutical Technology (Process Chemistry); Biological Sciences consisting departments of i) Pharmacology and Toxicology ii) Biotechnology iii) Pharmacy Practice iv) Pharmaceutical Technology (Biotechnology) and Pharmaceutical sciences which covers departments of i) Pharmaceutical Analysis ii) Pharmaceutics and iii) Medical Devices.

Career avenues
Career opportunities in Pharmaceutical science are spread both in private and government sector. A large number of qualified people find work with drug manufacturers which include bulk manufacturers too. Considering the population size of India, the country itself has a huge demand of drugs .At the same time India is also a big exporter of drugs. Many of the multinational drug companies also operate in India.Private healthcare industry in the country is expanding fast with coming up of new hospitals. Similarly many new centres of All India Institute of Medical Sciences have come up and are expanding. These too have opportunities for students of Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical sciences. Research labs, clinical testing labs, both private and government have opportunities for them. Herbal drug manufacturing in the country has got a boost and this can be one of the promising sectors.
For research stream opportunities exist at research laboratories, institutes like NIPER, big hospitals and vaccine makers etc.

For academically oriented people universities, pharma colleges and other institutes have good opportunities as their number is fairly large.

Insurance companies have also the requirement for people from pharma background.

Management students with MBA Pharm are needed mostly in private sector by drug manufacturers and marketers, 1894.

India has certain advantages when it comes to. The country has a big pool of qualified scientists and researchers, investments in the sector are on rise and there is good support to the sector from governments side.

Indian pharmaceutical sector is expected to grow to US$ 100 billion, while medical device market is expected to grow US$ 25 billion by the year 2025. Pharmaceuticals export from India stood at US$ 20.70 billion in the financial year gone by. Pharmaceutical export includes bulk drugs, intermediates, drug formulations, biologicals, herbal products and surgical products. See, if you want to become a part of this growth story?

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Arti S