Medicine and related branches have been a source of attraction for the young minds since time immemorial. It not only ensures a bright and safe future for you, but also provides you with a chance to serve the mankind, making you stand apart from the crowd in numerous ways. One such course is the ‘Pharmacy course’ that help you stand apart from the crowd and secure a bright future.

Introduction:

Pharmacy is the clinical science that relates medical science with chemistry. It plays a vital role in healthcare profession. The demand of pharma graduates is high in sectors like healthcare, research, manufacturing and pharmacovigilance. By seeing the increasing demand of pharmacists, AICTE has also increased the number of seats in various courses.

Eligibility for pharmacy:

• Candidates should have passed 10+2 in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics/Biology from a recognized university.
• Minimum 50% aggregate in the qualifying examination.
• Candidates who had passed a Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) are also eligible.
• Admission is done by State/Central Medical Admission Authority. It can be based on merit/Entrance exam.
• For getting admission in Masters of pharmacy, one has to give the GPAT exams.

Entrance exam:

• WBJEE– West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination.
• Odisha JEE
• GCET – Goa Common Entrance Te
• HPCET– Himachal Pradesh Common Entrance Test
• SAAT- Shiksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University Admission Test.
• MHT CET- Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test
• DIPSAR – Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Res
• UPSEE/UPTU- Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Examination
• GUJCET- Gujarat Common Entrance Test
• TSECET- Telangana State Common Entrance Test

Courses:

Diploma courses:

• Pharm.
• Diploma in veterinary pharmacy.
• Diploma in pharmaceutical management.

All the diploma courses are of 2 years.

Undergraduate Courses:

• Pharm.
• Pharm.(hons)
• Pharm. in pharmaceutical chemistry.
• Pharm. in pharmaceutics
• Pharm. in pharmacognosy.
• Pharm. in ayurvedic.

All the above mentioned bachelor courses are of 4 and half year duration.

• Pharm. + MBA dual course is of 5 years duration.

Postgraduate pharmacy courses:

• M Pharm.
• Pharm. in biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics.
• Pharm. in biopharmaceutics.
• Pharm. in biotechnology.
• Pharm. in clinical pharmacy.
• Pharm. in clinical practice and research.
• Pharm. in cosmoceuticals.
• Pharm. in drug development and regulatory sciences.
• Pharm. in drug discovery and drug development.
• Pharm. in drug regulatory affairs.
• Pharm. in industrial pharmacy.
• Pharm. in medicinal chemistry.
• Pharm. in medicinal natural products
• Pharm. in nanotechnology.
• Pharm. in pharmaceutical administration.
• Pharm. in pharmaceutical quality assurance.
• Pharm. in pharmaceutical analysis.
• Pharm. in pharmaceutical biotechnology.
• Pharm. in pharmaceutical chemistry .
• Pharm. in Pharmaceutical Market and Management.
• Pharm. in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs.
• Pharm. in Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics.
• Pharm. in Pharmaceutical Technology.
• Pharm. in Pharmaceutics.
• Pharm. in Pharmacognosy & Phytomedicine.
• Pharm. in Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.
• Pharm. in Pharmacology & Toxicology.
• Pharm in pharmacology.
• Pharm. in pharmacy practice.
• Pharm. in natural product and phytochemistry.
• Pharm. in quality assurance.
• Sc in pharmacology.

All the masters courses mentioned above are of 2 years duration.

Many doctoral courses are also available which are of 3 year duration.

Career prospects:

• Career Scope & Job Opportunities in Pharmacy field are huge. Due to the opening of large pharmaceutical companies, the future in the field of pharmacy is bright.
• Numerous jobs are available for pharmacists in government as well as private organizations. After completing your studies, you can easily find jobs in pharmaceutical industries, government departments, colleges and universities, hospitals, investigation and research institutes etc.
• Pharmacists can practice in community pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, psychiatric hospitals and regulatory agencies. Sales & Marketing job sector also hire maximum number of pharmacy graduates.
• One can also work in retail stores of medicines. After registering with the state Pharmacy Council, you can open chemist/drug shop and sell medicines as per doctor’s prescription.

A report by Akanksha Sharma for IHOIK education desk