Careers in Pharmacy

Pharmacists are responsible for the preparation, dispensing and appropriate use of medication and which provides services to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes. A Pharmacists job is to prepare, mix, compound or dispense drugs and medicines, ointments, powder, pills, tablets and injections on the prescription of a medical practitioner, dentist or veterinarian. Those in research concern themselves with synthesis of new drugs, clinical testing of the effects of such drugs on animals and humans, and obtaining the required License from the drug control authorities.

Course Details
The main courses in Pharmacy are the 2 years Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm), 4 years Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), 2 years Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm) and PhD programmes. Eligibility for D.Pharm/B.Pharm is 10+2 pass Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology. At the masters level (M Pharm) specialization is available in various streams. And after M.Pharm candidates can go for PhD programme in some specific areas.

Main entrance exams for the admissions to pharmacy courses are State wise entrance exams, AIEEE (for degree courses) GATE (post graduation) etc. Institutions like IITs and some other institutions also accept the score of these entrance exams. After obtaining a diploma or degree in pharmacy, and registering with the state Pharmacy Council, it is possible set up your own pharmacy or chemists and druggists shop to stock and sell medicines and dispense them according to doctor prescription.

Career Prospects
The job avenues for a pharmacist are open in public and private sector. They are mostly absorbed in by government hospitals and health care departments. Besides they have also ample avenues in private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. They can also work in pharmaceutical industries. Various government departments like Railways and Defense also recruit pharmacists in their departmental hospitals.

Appointments are also available in sale promotion work as medical representatives. M.pharm or Ph.D holders are normally absorbed in research work, to develop new useful drugs, in laboratories and in production work in pharmaceutical industry and analyzing them for purity and strength. Pharmacist may also take up teaching as a profession as lectures in pharmacy colleges and universities.

Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
Pharmacy courses are offered by many pharmacy colleges and universities. Some names are given below. Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi; Indian Institute of Pharmacy, Jamshedpur; New Delhi Collage of Pharmacy, New Delhi; Hamdard University, New Delhi; Collage of Pharmaceutical Science, Manipal; Trivendrum College of Pharmaceutical Science, Trivendrum; Collage of Pharmacy, Indore; Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai; Sri Jayadev College of Pharmaceutical Science, Puri; Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani; Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu; Madras Medical College, Chennai; Baneras Hindu University, Varanasi; Jadavpur University, Calcatta.

Remuneration
Pharmacists get reasonable salary in government and private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic laboratories etc. The average starting salary of a pharmacists ranges between Rs.6000 - 10000 per month in hospitals and in clinics. Those working in private hospitals and clinics have more income than those of government employees. Those who are doing private practice are earning handsome returns depending upon their skill and popularity. Those working in private sector pharmaceutical companies have basic pay of Rs 12000 to Rs 20000 depending upon qualification and experiences. Medical Representatives are earning on an average Rs 10000 to Rs 15000 per months.