India is often hailed as the 'pharmacy of the world' and the pharma business is growing from strength to strength. India’s expertise in drug manufacturing was recognised the world over during the Covid 19 pandemic when India supplied the crucial life saving vaccines to several countries across the world.
The pharmaceutical industry in India is expected to touch USD 65 B by 2024 and reach approx. USD 130 B by 2030. Currently, India exports pharma products to over 200 countries worldwide. India meets ~25% of all medicinal needs in the UK, ~40% of the demand for generic drugs in the US and over 50% of Africa’s requirement for generic drugs. The pharma industry needs qualified professionals to power this growth and educational institutions across India offer a B.Pharm and an M.Pharm degree, popular with students wishing to enter the space.
B.Pharm degree program is a 4 year full time course that prepares students to pursue promising career opportunities in pharmacy industry. The program imparts skills in developing and implementing therapeutic strategies to promote the health and well-being of patients and also safe and effective use, storage, and disposal of medications. Students also learn how to prepare medications, provide counseling to patients and conduct medication reviews.
Some of the leading Indian pharmaceutical companies include Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Cipla Ltd., Biocon, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., Lupin Ltd., Cadila Healthcare Ltd., and Abbott India Ltd. Some of the multinational companies are AstraZeneca, Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, etc.
Students of B.Pharm can pursue promising careers with several jobs open to them such as pharmacists, drug inspectors, quality control managers, medical writers or clinical research associates. The government is focusing on the pharma segment and working on regulatory aspects, funding for innovation, collaboration between industry-academics, and modern infrastructure. India is all set to be among the top 10 countries spending on medicines over the next 5 years.
Pharmacist: These professionals are responsible for reading the doctor’s prescription and dispensing medicines. They are also responsible to record the entry of drugs into their retail store, monitor expiry dates of those medicines and advise patients on how to consume those medicines for best results.
Medical representative: One of the oldest and most popular jobs after graduation, the main role of these professionals is to promote medications and medical equipment to doctors, channel partners and other healthcare professionals. A medical representative requires in-depth knowledge of the medicines he promotes and has to build relationships, handover samples, take feedback, follow sales leads and attend meetings. They formulate strategies to promote the brands they are associated with.
Clinical research associate: The role of a clinical research associate is to conduct research studies and clinical trials to learn about the safety of the pharmaceutical products. They establish trial protocols, set up trial sites and manage & monitor materials. They also interact with doctors and members of the ethics committees to ensure the safety of people who participate in the trials. They prepare extensive reports and document the trial records.
Clinical pharmacist: These professionals work closely with doctors and other healthcare experts to monitor patient records and evaluate their conditions to determine if the medications prescribed to them are effective and appropriate. They advise doctors on the accuracy of dosages and administration to achieve optimal patient benefit. They also educate patients on following proper medications, diet and exercise routine to stay healthy and active.
Research scientist: Research scientists are tasked with conducting research on various pharmaceutical topics. They plan these studies, devise strategies and establish research protocols. On analysing the research data, they must publish authentic reports, white papers and articles on their findings. They also have to make research presentations in-house, at industry events and scientific events such as conferences, seminars and workshops.
Drug Inspector: A Drug Inspector is in-charge of supervising the quality of a drug and issuing licences to pharmacists. His responsibilities include checking the stock of drugs in retail outlets to verify expiry dates and ensure there is no sale of spurious drugs.
Chemical technician: A chemical technician or drug technician assists chemists and researchers in developing, producing, testing and evaluating various chemical products using sophisticated lab equipment and processes. His responsibilities include chemical processing and writing of reports.
Education opportunities after B. Pharm.: After B. Pharm., students can pursue higher studies to further enhance their career prospects. Usually, students pursue a two-year M.Pharm degree after their UG program. The PG program offers specialisations in pharmacology, pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemistry, pharmacognosy, drug regulatory affairs, drug delivery technology and pharmaceutical biotechnology. With an M.Pharm degree, one can pursue senior pharmacy roles.
The "College of Pharmaceutical Sciences" (COPS) at Dayananda Sagar University (DSU), recognized by PCI, New Delhi and the Government of Karnataka, is recognized as one of India’s leading institutions in pharma education. COPS offers B. Pharm, M. Pharm, PharmD, and Ph.D. programs in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy, and Pharmaceutical Analysis. The college has dedicated innovation clusters focused on drug discovery and development in collaboration with industrial partners and research organizations. Students are exposed to a highly professional healthcare ecosystem in association with Sagar Hospitals, part of Dayananda Sagar Group.
The bachelor of pharmacy course at DSU - COPS provides comprehensive knowledge and scientific insight across various pharmacy disciplines including Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Analysis, and Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs. Students gain practical experience in synthesizing, formulating, and analyzing pharmaceutical and herbal medicinal agents. Additionally, they participate in pharmacological screening, biological standardization, and studying in vivo drug interactions.
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