Pharmacy - Careers, Salary, Jobs, Scope
Why Pharmacy?
A pharmacy undergraduate stands an opportunity to make a career as a Community Pharmacist, Hospital Pharmacist or a Research Scientist in the medical field. Companies like Dr Reddy’s Labs and Ciplawho deal in pharmaceuticals hire a pharmacy undergraduate for the position of Pharmaceutical Sales Representative and other likewise positions.
Those interested in research in the field of pharmacy can apply for research scientist position in government institution like Jawahar Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research. Further, a pharmacy graduate is also eligible for the post of Drug Inspector in government agencies.
Jobs in this field are a perfect blend of indoor and outdoor experience. As a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, one gets to travel around and interact with physicians. They explain the newly introduced products of the pharmaceutical industry to them and promote its use. A pharmaceutical professional usually works for 8 -10 hours a day on an average.
Jobs and career opportunities in Pharmaceutical Industry
Following are the job profiles available for students who have done a pharmacy course.
- Community Pharmacist
- Hospital Pharmacist
- Research Scientist
- Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
- Clinical Research Associate
- Higher Education Lecturer
- Product/ Process Development Scientist
- Pharmacologist
- Regulatory Affairs Officer
- Toxicologist
Let us have a quick look at some of the job profiles.
Community Pharmacist
Community Pharmacists are health professionals who supply medicine according to the requirements. They sell general and prescribed medicines. If you are looking for a career as a Community Pharmacist, then these are the companies where you can apply-
- Lupin
- Dr Reddy’s Lab
- Cipla
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Cadila Healthcare
Anyone who has done a three-year undergraduate course in Pharmacy can apply for the post of Community Pharmacist. The average salary offered to professionals in this field is around Rs 3 Lakhs per annum.
Hospital Pharmacist
Hospital Pharmacists are the ones who play an active part in purchasing and testing medicines and at the same time are responsible for dispensing prescriptions. They work with the nursing staff to ensure that patients receive required medicine on time. As a Hospital Pharmacist, you can seek job in renowned hospitals like-
- Fortis Hospital
- Asian Institute of Oncology
- Sahyadri Hospitals
- Aarogyam Medical College and Hospital
- Healthcare Global Enterprises
Anyone who has done a three-year undergraduate course can enrol themselves in Doctor of Pharmacy course. Upon achieving the degree of Pharm.D, one can apply for the post of Hospital Pharmacist. The average salary offered to a Hospital Pharmacist is around 3 Lakhs per annum.
Research Scientist
A research scientist designs and analyses information from laboratory-based investigations and observations. A research scientist has the opportunity to work with government laboratories, research organizations, and universities. Here are a few names of organizations and institutes where you can apply for the post of a research scientist.
- Mankind Pharma Ltd.
- Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research
- Albany Molecular Research Inc
A pharmacy student needs to have a master’s degree in order to apply for the post of data scientist. Some of the organizations also seek a Ph.D degree from the candidate. The average salary offered to a research scientist is around 6 Lakhs per annum.
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Pharmaceutical sales representative travel around and interact with physicians and medication prescribing professionals. They educate them about the newly introduced drugs in the market and also guide them regarding their proper usage. Many leading pharmaceutical companies appoint sales representatives. Some of them are listed below:
- India Pharma People
- Hector and Streak
- Soothika Ayurveda Mother and Baby Care Pvt Ltd
- BCS Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
- Trupti Placements
There is no minimum educational qualification laid down for becoming a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative. However, most of the representatives have a four year undergraduate degree in Pharmacy. The average salary offered to a medical representative is around 2.5 Lakhs per annum.
Clinical Research Associate
A Clinical Research Associate is a health care professional who performs clinical trials and does research work related to medicines. They are appointed by various research laboratories of the government. Private agencies also hire such professionals. Some of the organizations are listed below:
- ReeLabs Pvt. Ltd.
- PRA Health Services
- Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Ltd.
- Croissance Clinical Research
- Ipca Laboratories Ltd.
Primarily, one should hold a bachelor’s degree in life sciences or medical technology in order to apply to a post of Clinical Research Associate. In India, a Clinical Research Associate receives an annual compensation of 3 lakhs per annum.
Salary in Pharmaceutical Industry
As a fresher or someone having an experience of 0-2 years,one can land himself a package of 3 lakhs per annum. This is an initial figure. As a medical professional with an experience with 5 or more years, the package is likely to be somewhere between 6-10 lakhs per annum for professionals like Medical Representatives and Research Associates.
Leading pharmaceutical companies like Dr Reddy’s Labs, Cipla etc. are continuously on a look for pharmaceutical professionals. Interested candidates can tune in to LinkedIn or naukri.com for job opportunities related to their specialization.
Once experienced for 10+ years and in possession of a Master’s degree or Ph.D., they can work as a research associate or lecturer in a government-owned institution like Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research.
Opportunities are equally bright abroad. One can apply for the post of a Research Scientist in an institution like the University of Washington for a decent package of 1.2 Lakhs USD per annum.
Recruiters Pharmacy Recruiters
Most companies recruit students for the post of Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives and Community Pharmacist. Following are the major recruiters of Pharmacy undergraduates in India:
- Dr Reddy’s Labs
- Cipla
- Sun Pharmaceutical
- Lupin
- Aurbindo Pharma
- Cadila Healthcare
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
- Divi’s Laboratories
- Torrent Pharmaceuticals
Pharmacy Courses
Degrees offered at diploma, undergraduate courses, and postgraduate level are as follows:
Course | Duration | Eligibility | Fee |
B.Pharm | 4 years | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology with 50% aggregate | Rs 8,50,000 |
B.Pharm (Hons.) | 3 years | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology with 50% aggregate | Rs 3,50,000 |
B.Pharm. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) | 4 years | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology with 50% aggregate | Rs 8,00,000 |
B.Pharm (Pharmaceutics) | 4 years | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology with 50% aggregate | 5,00,000 |
B.Pharm. + M.B.A (Pharma. Technology) (Integrated Course) | 5 years | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology with 50% aggregate | Rs 8,50,000 |
M.D. (Pharmacology) | 3 years | Bachelor’s degree in Science/ M.B.B.S | 31,00,000 |
M.Pharm
|
2 years | Bachelor in Pharmacy with 50% aggregate | 2,50,000 |
Syllabus
Students who have enrolled themselves in B.Pharm Courses have to complete the course which is distributed in eight semesters. Here are the subjects that a Pharmacy undergraduate studies.
B.Pharm Syllabus
Semester I |
Fundamentals of Pharmaceutics |
Introduction to Pharmaceutical Chemistry |
Human Anatomy, Physiology and Health Education |
Introduction to Pharmacognosy
Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Analysis |
Fundamentals of Computer Applications in Pharmacy |
Semester II |
Pharmaceutics- I (Unit Operations – I) |
Physical Pharmaceutics |
Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Inorganic And Nuclear Medicinal Chemistry) |
Human Anatomy And Physiology |
Phytopharmaceuticals – I |
Titrimetric Methods Of Pharmaceutical Analysis |
Semester III |
Pharmaceutics – II (Unit Operations – II) |
Preparative Pharmacy (Dispensing Pharmacy) |
Organic Chemistry-I |
Fundamentals Of Pharmacology |
Phytopharmaceuticals – II |
Semester IV |
Hospital And Community Pharmacy |
Pharmaceutical Microbiology |
Organic Chemistry-II |
Pathophysiology And Pharmacology-I |
Analytical Pharmacognosy & Herbal Drug Technology |
Semester V |
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology |
Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms-I (Liquid, Semisolid And Solid Dosage Forms) |
Medicinal Chemistry-I (Drugs Acting On Ans, Respiratory Tract, And Cvs) |
Biochemistry –I |
Pathophysiology And Pharmacology-II |
Natural Pharmaceutical Agents |
Semester VI |
Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence And Regulatory Guidelines |
Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms – II (Sterile Preparations, Aerosols & Cosmetics) |
Medicinal Chemistry-II (Drugs Acting On Cns, Git And Hormonal Disorders) |
Biochemistry –II |
Pathophysiology And Pharmacology-III |
Electroanalytical And Separation Techniques |
Semester VII |
Industrial Pharmacy |
Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics |
Medicinal Chemistry – III (Chemotherapeutic Agents) |
Clinical Pharmacy |
Chemistry of Natural Products
Spectroscopic Method of Analysis |
Semester VIII |
Novel Drug Delivery Systems |
Medicinal Chemistry – Iv (Molecular Modelling & Drug Design) |
Pharmacotherapeutics |
Herbal Formulations And Complimentary Therapeutics |
Pharmaceutical Analysis & Quality Assurance |
Fundamentals Of Biostatistics |
Project Work |
M.Pharm Syllabus
Semester I |
Dosage form design parameters & pharmaceutical product development |
Bio-Statistics |
Modern Pharmaceutical Analytical Techniques |
Bio-pharmaceutics & pharmacokinetics |
Pharmaceutical Technology Lab |
Pharmaceutical Analysis Lab |
Semester II |
Drug Delivery System |
Pharmaceutical Bio-technology |
Process validation & CGMP |
Physical Pharmaceutics |
Bio-pharmaceutics Lab |
Semester III |
Research Method & Clinical Trials |
Synopsis |
Presentation |
Semester IV |
Thesis |
Defence of Thesis |
Top colleges offering Pharmacy courses in India
Below is a list of some of the popular colleges in India offering Pharmacy courses–
Institute | Address |
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research | Mohali |
Institute of Chemical Technology | Mumbai |
Goa College of Pharmacy | Goa |
Jamia Hamdard University | New Delhi |
Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences | Manipal |
Poona College of Pharmacy | Pune |
Bombay College of Pharmacy | Mumbai |
KLE College of Pharmacy | Hubli |
LM College of Pharmacy | Ahmedabad |
Let’s look at some renowned colleges that provide this course in detail:
University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences is a grade ‘A’ accredited constituent college of Panjab University. The college which was established in 1944 is a prime destination for those who want to take up pharmacy as major at the college level. Successful candidates of GPAT can seek admission here.
For B.Pharm. fees are 11,000/- per year. While for M.Pharm. fees are Rs 22,000/- per year. The college has a good record of nearly 100% placements. The average package goes around 3.5 lakhs – 4 lakhs per annum.
Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani
BITS Pilani is an established name when it comes to pursuing higher education in the field of science. Established in 1964, this institution holds a grade ‘A’ accreditation from NAAC.
The B.Pharm. is quite a popular course and to seek admission in that candidates have to clear BITSAT. For B.Pharm. Fees are Rs 7.11 Lakhs. The college has a good record of nearly 100% placements.The average package goes around 6 lakhs per annum.
Banaras Hindu University
BHU is a top-ranked university in terms of faculty and quality of education. It is one of the oldest universities in India established in 1916. Due to its quality education imparting facility, it has been rated as a grade ‘A’ institute.
For admission into the pharmacy course at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, students have to clear an entrance exam conducted by BHU. For B.Pharm. Fees are 1, 05,000/- per year and for M.Pharm. Fees are Rs 14,985/- per year. The average package goes around 5 lakhs – 6 lakhs per annum.
Jamia Hamdard University
It is a top-ranked college for courses like B.Pharm. and M.Pharm. alongside University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. This central government university which is a grade ‘A’ accredited institution, was established in 1989 and since its inception; it has established a name for itself.
Here, seats are filled with candidates who are successful in AIPMT (conducted by CBSE) or Jamia Hamdard’s entrance examination.
For B.Pharm. Fees are 92,500/- per year.For M.Pharm. Fees are Rs 1, 37,000/- per year.The average package goes around 3.5 lakhs per annum.
National Institute for Pharmaceutical Education and Research
NIPER is an autonomous body set up under the aegis of Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India. The
college is located in Mohali, Punjab and has received grade ‘A’ accreditation by NAAC.
Candidates take NIPER JEE to seek admission here for MBA (Pharm.) program. The fees for the course is 1, 36,350/- per year and for M.Pharm. Fees are Rs 44,390/- per year. The average package goes around 6 lakhs – 8 lakhs per annum.
Requirements for Pharmacy course
In order to pursue higher education in pharmacy, one has to have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/Biology as their main subjects at 10+2 level with a minimum of 50% marks.
For admission at postgraduate level, one has to have a Bachelor’s degree in Science with a minimum of 50% marks.
Scope of Pharmacy in India
Continuous research is on in the field of medicines around the globe hence the opportunities for a pharmacy professional are quite wide not only in India but also abroad. One can write GRE, TOEFL, IELTS to seek admission in pharmacy postgraduate courses of reputed colleges in the US, UK or Germany.
Further, the option of starting one’s own pharmaceutical business is also there. Apart from being a research scientist or a pharmaceutical sales representative, one can also apply for the post of drug inspector in government agencies.