Doctor of Pharmacy / Pharm.D is a post-graduate program in the field of Medical. The course started in 2008 by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and the Government of India. The main motive behind the program is to
develop a more experienced doctor to treat and provide better health services. The more deep knowledge a person can attain in the field of Pharmacy the more benefit is there for the society. The Duration of this coursework
is 6 years, which includes 5 years of study followed by and 1 year of internship. On successful completion of this coursework, the student is awarded a degree of Doctorate of Pharmacy.
This degree program includes the study of diverse aspects of patient care and pharmaceutics that includes the study of basic pharmaceutics, biology and medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, clinical Research, biopharmaceutics & pharmacokinetics,
and patient care, etc The Doctor of Pharmacy graduates can make a career in an array of pharmaceutical-related areas.
The main work of Pharm.D is explaining the working of the medicine, when the medications are to be taken, the action of medicine in the body, effects of the medicine in the body and how it is working inside the body.
The degree holder of Phram.D is the right to call themselves Doctor. They have great options to work in private as well as government sectors. The most preferred career options are hospital pharmacist, retail pharmacist, institutional
pharmacist, and medical scientist. They can also go for higher studies such as Ph.D.
Eligibility Criteria
For Pharm.D (6-year course): To be eligible for the 6-year Doctorate of Pharmacy degree program, the candidate must qualify in the senior secondary board examination with Physics and Chemistry with any one
subject of Biology or Mathematics.
Entrance exams are held by different institutions/colleges.
The minimum age to get avail of the course is 17 years and above. In government colleges, there is a relaxation for OBC, SC, and ST candidates.
The study of theory and practicals are for 5 years and plus one year of compulsory internship.
The aspirants with D.Pharm degree from a Pharmacy Council of India approved college or school under section 12 pharmacy act are also eligible for this course.
Candidates with equivalent education are also eligible
For Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate): The aspirants with the
B.Pharm degree from a
Pharmacy Council of India approved college or school under section 12 pharmacy act are also eligible for Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) course.
The course is for 3 years, including 1 year of internship.
The admission procedure is based on the performance of students in their respective board or degree exams.
Candidates are selected as per their merit basis in the above-mentioned qualification exams.
Career and Scope
With the rapidly expanding scope of the pharmaceutical field,
Pharm.D is considered to be a standard course to pursue a successful career in this field. People nowadays are extremely concerned about their health so they prefer consulting professional health experts. So there is
a great chance of having a successful career by providing valuable health care services and consultation to them.
Pharm.D students can go beyond traditional career options.
Pharmaceutical industries are always looking forward to working with specialists that are having deeper knowledge.
Clinical Research, Hospital Administration, Drug Information Resource Pharmacist, Pharmacovigilance, and even Medical Writing are some latest bright career opportunities in India as well as abroad.
Home Health Care is also another modern career option that is gaining popularity where the Pharm.D graduates provide professional patient care in their residences.
Some other options include providing pharmacy education in colleges, work in government and constitutional agencies as drug inspectors.
All these options are having good earning potential with decent growth in income as well as a career.
In other countries, the course of Pharm.D is very popular. The multinational companies are always in deep search with the talented and skilled individual in Pharm.D. There are different working scope as a researcher, developer, and a few others to which
a person can apply for.
