Bachelor of Pharmacy: The Road Map for Pharmacy Professionals

Why Pharmacy?

Pharmacy is a health profession linked to the science and technique of preparing and dispensing drugs. It connects health sciences with chemical sciences and makes sure that pharmaceutical agents are used safely and effectively. The field of pharmacy has advanced immensely and includes much more than traditional activities like compounding and dispensing medications. The recent developments in the pharmacy field involve various modern healthcare services which include clinical services, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, providing drug information, manufacturing of formulations using modern techniques, designing delivery systems and complying with the standards set for quality control and quality assurance.

Presently, immense scope exists for qualified pharmacy professionals who are equipped with the knowledge of latest developments in the pharmacy field which in turn, requires them to be engaged in manufacture, distribution, marketing, quality control and assurance, regulatory authorities and in post marketing operations like pharmacovigilance, clinical trials, etc. Enormous scope exists when one wants to pursue a career in pharmacy field.  Needless to say, the demand for skilled, competent and motivated professionals will be at its peak when it comes to the safe and effective delivery of healthcare which will further help in boosting the growth of pharmaceutical sector in the country.

Keeping in view, the requirement to generate future pharmacists, the School of Pharmaceutical Technology (SOPT) was established by Adamas University at the Adamas Knowledge City on Barasat-Barrackpore road. SOPT was set up with a vision to impart the knowledge and skills related to pharmaceutical sciences which will lead to professional pharmacists. The Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) course was introduced in SOPT with an aim to narrow the existing gap between educational curriculum and the skills and proficiency required for pharmaceutical professionals in the field of pharmacy.

Program Highlights:

This 4 year long undergraduate course is structured in such a manner which provides in-depth knowledge and guidance on the following subject areas:

• “Human Anatomy and Physiology” giving the idea on structure and relationship of internal body organs and systems.
• “Pharmaceutics” which is linked to the knowledge of various pharmaceutical dosage forms and the technology associated with the same.
• “Pharmaceutical Chemistry” and “Medicinal Chemistry” giving an idea about the chemistry of pharmaceutical substances and their association with therapeutic efficacy.
• “Pharmacology” describing body’s response mechanism to a drug.
• “Pharmacognosy” and “Herbal Drug Technology” recalling the traditional treatment modalities and tranforming them to newer and safer alternatives.
• “Pharmaceutical Engineering” and “Industrial Pharmacy” describing the manner in which the industrial manufacturing of drugs in several commercial set-up functions.
• “Pharmaceutical Microbiology” and “Pharmaceutical Biotechnology” providing insights to the huge world of the “tiny” organisms helping us to develop combat mechanisms.
• It also includes the brief concepts on “Biochemistry”, “Pathophysiology” etc. while making the students skilled about “Marketing & Management”, “Computer Applications”, “Pharmaceutical Regulations”, “Pharmacovigilance” which will ultimately help them to be more versatile in a world of multitasking.

Any changes in the program curriculum shall be prescribed from time to time by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), New Delhi (the core body to regulate pharmacy education in the country).

1. Pharm is one of the most favoured degree courses in healthcare sector because of its wide career opportunities assuring consistent professional growth, rewards and recognition as a teacher/ instructor/ researcher/ industrial professional/ manager/ policy maker/ entrepreneur.

Eligibility Criteria for Admission:

Candidate shall have passed 10+2 examination conducted by the respective state/central government authorities recognized as equivalent to 10+2 examination by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) with English as one of the subjects and Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (P.C.M) and/or Biology (P.C.B/P.C.M.B.) as optional subjects individually. Any other qualification approved by PCI as equivalent to any of the above examinations.

To get lateral entry to third semester of B. Pharm course, the candidate should have passed D. Pharm from an institution approved by the PCI under section 12 of the Pharmacy Act.

Learning Areas:

On completion of the course, apart from the technical subject knowledge students will also acquire:

• Interpersonal and communication skills which is a prerequisite for any career which requires patient listening and effective coordination to connect with diverse population within/outside the organization. Pharmacy professionals need to have respect, empathy and understanding towards general public while working as a community pharmacist. Additionally, they should be able to technically represent their views, plans, outcomes in front of scientific/ industrial community while working as a professional.
• Knowledge on professional ethics which is absolutely necessary for a pharmacist to follow ethical practices with maintaining privacy, confidentiality, well-being of patients while adhering to the clear ethical guidelines irrespective of their personal beliefs.
• Scientific aptitude by being able to assimilate the various concepts going through a huge theoretical and practical curriculum which adheres to the regulations of PCI.
• Ability to work as a team member as well as individual while working on several projects under the faculty members in the final and pre-final year for the partial fulfilment of the degree.

What are the Scope and Opportunities:

• Students can join post graduate courses such as Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm) available in various PCI approved colleges/ institutes/ universities and pursue their higher studies with fellowship after qualifying Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) organized by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi every year.
• Graduate students have an opportunity to join prestigious central institutes/ universities working as Research Assistants/ Technical Assistants/ Research Scientists under various schemes/ projects.
• Further, the post-graduate students may pursue their doctoral and post-doctoral programs in India as well as abroad.
• Research and development in various start-up firms and industries is a golden opportunity for the research-enthusiasts.
• Joining production/ manufacturing department, packaging department, quality control/ quality assurance in small/ medium/ large scale pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries is a lucrative option for the pharmacy graduates.
• Students may opt for job opportunities in sales, marketing and management of the industries and may achieve a better professional growth in this field after pursuing MBA (Master in Business Administration).
• If the students are willing to engage in community service, they may join community (retail) pharmacy, hospital pharmacy in clinical settings. They may also work as hospital drug coordinator.
• If the students are interested in getting involved in the approval process of pharmaceutical products and want to know “how the safe and secured drug products reach to the bedside from the bench” they can shape their career in pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, clinical pharmacy in numerous multinational Clinical Research Organizations (CROs).
• Students may work as medical writers to sharpen their good project management and coordination skills, improve the knowledge of therapeutic areas, process of drug development, pharmacology and drug safety in clinical trials. This increases their ability to interpret and present complex data complying with regulatory guidelines, ethical and legal issues.
• Chemistry-loving students and others can join state and central government testing laboratories as analysts and technicians.
• Students may shape their career in regulating and implementing rules and regulations throughout the countrywide pharmacy chain working as Drug Inspectors appointed by state as well as central government. They may reach to the higher positions such as State Drug Controller on fulfilment of requisite educational qualification and work experience.
• There is always an opportunity to start their own companies at any stage after the degree, especially to start wholesale/ retail pharmacy, research start-ups, small manufacturing units, etc. upon getting required approval and strong ideas.

Pharmaceutical Giants who have given internship and placement opportunities to our final year B. Pharm students:

Cipla, Micro Labs Limited, Alkem, Caplet, Sun Pharma, Akums, Shangrila Industries (P) Ltd., Glenmark, Alembic, East India Pharmaceutical Works Limited, APCER Life Sciences, Cadila Pharmaceuticals, etc.