Smart Skills
Pharmacy is a good prescription
Usha Albuquerque

If getting into medical school is a problem, a fallback that makes for an exciting alternative career is pharmacy. With the complexities of modern medicine and the thousands of drugs being developed and dispensed every day, health professionals and the public have come to rely quite heavily on the specialised knowledge of pharmacists. This along with the massive growth in the pharmaceutical industry has created an increasing demand for trained pharmacists.

Work wise

Pharmacists work on developing and preparing different medicinal drugs used in the prevention and cure of diseases. They also study the properties, usage and effects of various drugs and test drugs for purity and strength. Moreover, pharmacists dispense drugs and medicines prescribed by physicians, surgeons, dentists and other specialists.

Pharmacists who work in drug manufacturing and pharmaceutical companies are involved in the production and marketing of the medicines produced. This involves working in medical analytical laboratories, and supervising or preparing the solutions and compounds that are mixed together to form powders, tablets, capsules, ointments and so on. It also requires testing of reactions of the drugs before they are introduced in hospitals and drug stores. Pharmacists are also involved in the planning, promotion and distribution of drugs and pharmaceuticals so as to satisfy the needs of the consumers.

More about medical reps

Most professional pharmacists are involved in retailing of drugs and as representatives of pharmaceutical companies. Retail pharmacists prepare and dispense drugs on prescription and are expected to provide over-the-counter advice on the use of the medicines prescribed, as well as handle the business and marketing aspects of running a chemists shop.

A medical representative is responsible for introducing medical practitioners to new products that are being manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, and involves regular visits to doctors, dentists, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and health centres.

The competition among pharmaceutical companies has resulted in many setting up research and development centres to build their own formulae for effective medicines which can be manufactured after testing and analyses.

Eligibility

If you have completed plus two or equivalent with physics, chemistry and biology/ mathematics, you are eligible for the Bachelor’s degree programme in Pharmacy (B. Pharm), which is of four years duration, as also the Diploma in Pharmacy which is for two years. Most universities offer the course, including BITS Pilani, Delhi University and Panjab University. Admission in most universities is made on the basis of the results of an entrance exam, or the AIEEE exam for the participating institutes.

With a diploma or Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy you can work as retail chemists, drug inspectors and in certain areas of manufacturing in pharmaceutical companies. However, for greater career growth and mobility it is advisable to also take up the Master’s course (M.Pharm) after B.Pharm.

There are many universities and colleges which offer pharmacy at the diploma and degree levels recognised by the Pharmacy Council of India. It must be noted that vocational courses in pharmacy are considered illegal by the Pharmacy Council of India, so you must check the credentials of an institute offering courses in pharmacy before enrolling in any programme.

Healthy choices

Most pharmacy graduates are employed as pharmacists in hospitals, retail chains or independent chemist outlets. Those who complete a diploma in pharmacy can work as retail chemists, sales representatives in medical stores and hospital pharmacies. The Pharmacy Council of India has prescribed the Diploma in Pharmacy as the minimum qualification for registration as a “registered pharmacist”, to work in health centres and medical dispensing stores. A graduate pharmacist is recognised as an approved chemist in the pharmaceutical industry and in manufacturing, as well as in R &D work. They can also be involved in repackaging drugs and chemicals, or work as manufacturing chemists for cosmetics manufacturers.

Besides the above options, pharmacists with a B.Pharm degree can work in drug manufacturing companies as manufacturing or analytical chemists and drug inspectors. Those with appropriate qualifications can work in the area of quality control, ensuring that quality requirements are maintained in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical and medicinal products. They can also work in government offices, the National Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Development Council, and with the Customs department as Drug appraisers, or as narcotic inspectors, or in the Department of Drugs Control.

Graduates in pharmacy can also opt for postgraduate study in Biotechnology, particularly if they wish to get into research.

A master’s degree in pharmacy qualifies you to work with pharmaceutical companies as manufacturing executive, analytical executive and product development executive. Those with an academic bent of mind can go into research or teaching. You can also get into clinical research with a Master’s degree in the subject and work with research laboratories conducting scientific studies on the effects, risks, efficacy and benefits of a medicinal product.

As a research scientist you would plan and investigate experiments and conduct fieldwork on scientific discoveries – extending the boundaries of knowledge in the life sciences. You could also work to develop new ideas and products or materials for use in the pharmaceutical field. With the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in India, and entry of multi-national research organisations, this is an exciting area of tremendous opportunities. Food and drink companies also employ pharmacy graduates to work in a range of roles within R & D and quality control, while an MBA after B.Pharm can extend that to include sales and marketing, and management.

Skill set

If you have entrepreneurial skills you can set up retail outlets, drug stores or even small manufacturing units for preparing the basic chemicals or compounds for larger pharmaceutical companies.

Pharmacy is a medical field and requires strong analytical skills. You must be able to evaluate and handle data, work accurately and systematically, and concentrate for long periods of time. It also calls for inquisitiveness, a strong sense of responsibility and a liking for working in a team.

The Indian pharmaceuticals industry is growing fast, even though as a country with 15 per cent of the world’s population India accounts for only 2 per cent of the world’s production of drugs. So, if you have the interest and the skills required for the career, there is scope for tremendous growth, both in the Indian market and globally.

The writer is a noted career expert