Bachelor of Pharmacy is an undergraduate program in the field of Pharmacy. In short, it is referred to as B. Pharm in India. It is a FOUR-YEAR academic degree program with theory and practical sessions. This is under the regulations of Pharmacy Council of India.
ELIGIBILITY:
- For admission into B. Pharm: 10+2 examination (or) equivalent examination pass with Physics and Chemistry along with either Mathematics or Biology
- For lateral entry i.e., Into 2nd year of B. Pharm: A pass in D. Pharm is mandatory.
ABOUT THE COURSE:
The duration of the course is four years with 6-8 semesters.
8 semesters for Four-yearB. Pharm candidates.
6 semesters for Three-year candidates i.e., to those through lateral entry.
COURSE OF STUDY:
THEORY: The course of study includes various subjects such as Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Biopharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence, Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmaceuticals, Industrial Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics etc.,
PRACTICAL:
- Practicals: Every student will be involved in practical sessions which includes formulating medications, identifying compounds, quality analysis of compounds, filling of capsules, analyzing pharmacokinetic profiles etc.,
- Project work: This is carried out under the supervision of faculty, to develop data collection, experimenting and reporting skills in the field of the pharmacy which is presented in written form at the end semester.
Pharmacy is an independent branch of science dealing with all the aspects of medicinal drugs and pharmaceuticals. This undergraduate program provides a lot of opportunities in areas such as Academics, Management, Administration, Research and Development, Quality assurance, Industries, Pharmacy regulators etc.,
Few of the major employment fields for the graduates are:
- Pharmaceutical Scientist
- Quality Control Associate
- Analytical Chemist
- Drug Inspector
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Drug technician
- Medical sales representative
- Regulatory affairs Officer
- Hospital Pharmacist
- Community Pharmacist
- Medical writer
- Quality Control Associate: Checking all the drugs that are in-process or in post processing prior to marketing and thus ensures the standards of the drugs.
- Pharmaceutical Scientist: Designing newer drug therapies uncovering new alternatives or actions of existing drugs by studying the effect of drugs on humans or animals.
- Medical Transcriptionist: Listening to dictated records of health care providers and transcript them into office notes, test results, referral letters for documentation as medical records
- Hospital Pharmacist: Dispensing the prescribed medications and monitoring the details of drugs distributed to the in-patients or out-patients and regularly evaluating the Inventory stock.
- Drug technician: Accurately formulating the drugs with appropriate dosing and supporting the pharmaceutical services by assembling, stocking, dispensing the medications and thus helping the health care providers and patients.
- Analytical Chemist: Assess the chemical structure and nature of substances in many areas such as drug development, forensic analysis, pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies.
- Drug Inspector: Controls drug piracy and duplicity by checking chemist shops and pharmaceutical companies from doing any illegal things against the rules and taking necessary actions according to Law.
- Medical Sales Representative: The MR will persuade health professionals to prescribe those medications explaining them the reasons i.e., the effectiveness of the brand when compared to others.
- Regulatory Affairs Officer: The officer works following ethical guidelines to ensure the efficacy and safety of new medications introduced into market. He should write a clear argument about licensing the new medication by analyzing the post market surveillance data.
- Medical Writer: He is the one who works with to develop clinical trial documents effectively and clearly describing research results, product use, and other information for publications in websites, magazines, newsletters or journals.
Apart from this, candidates can practice as a pharmacist at government as well as private hospitals. And also, can work as NGOs in the health domain, especially in rural areas.
There is a great scope for an aspirant to work abroad as a hospital pharmacist by clearing the general tests.
FURTHER STUDIES:
- After completion of B. Pharm, one can also opt for further academics such as M. Pharm, MBA, M.Sc.
- One can also pursue any M. Pharm programme such as pharmacology, pharmacy practice, analysis, pharmaceutics, biotechnology, pharmaceutical technology etc.,
- Many management courses including hospital management, drug store management, pharmaceutical management can be opted.