Pharmacy is not just about the drugstore. Pharma courses, be it a pharma degree or a pharma diploma course, is a course where the students study everything about medicine; we can say they engage in the research and development of medicine as a career option. A drug before it is introduced in the market has to go through every clinical trial so that the doctors can prescribe it. There is research conducted about its dosage and side effects. Pharma courses help students learn the process of research and the development of medicines. It is extensively included in the course curriculum. The students learn the fundamentals through practice and internships provided by the college till they become equipped to handle the real experiences of the formation of drugs, their usage and side-effects to its prescription by the doctors. A pharmacist is a part of the entire process. They are the ones who provide new medicines/drugs to various medical practitioners.
The part of a pharmacist does not end here. They are the ones who keep track of all the medicines and products through market surveys and connecting with the medical practitioners and distributors for any possible side effects, allergies and reactions. Although, before its distribution, medicines are tested in the labs because of the complexity and diversity of human beings. There might be different reactions to the drugs among other people because the human body is complex. So there are proper testing and research before it is handed over to the medical practitioners. Pharmacy includes everything related to wellness, right from the food you consume, lifestyle products, health, chemical products and cosmetics that you use.
Scope of Pharmacy & why to become a pharmacist in 2021
1. Work directly with people: Studying the Pharma courses is an excellent decision if you are a people person. You get the opportunity to link with all kinds of people who share their problems in detail so that you can provide them with the right advice and medicine.
Obviously, you need to be an active listener and show empathy, but if you love to interact and feel it is important to you, working as a pharmacist will fulfil your needs.
2. Help people stay healthy: Pharmacist is the most influential people in the healthcare system. Whether it is prescription medicines or over the counter (OTC) drugs, a pharmacist provides the people with what they need to stay healthy.
Pharmacists also need to pay close attention to the patient’s medical history and the drugs they are selling. Some people may have strong adverse reactions, which might put their lives in danger.
3. Pharmacists are in high demand: Whether you are working in a smaller city or the country’s capital, you can notice that there are pharmacies everywhere. This indicates that there is high demand for pharmacists and medicine.
4. Flexible work schedules: Unlike other medical practitioners like doctors and nurses, pharmacists have easier work schedules. They don’t usually deal with emergencies and have the flexibility to
- Work in shifts
- Work part-time
- Work and continue their studies
There is much less stress involved in being a pharmacist. They don’t perform major surgeries or make life-or-death decisions. Prescribing the right drugs and offering the proper advice on how to use the drugs are enough.
5. Find affordable pharmacy degrees: In general, pharmacy degrees are less expensive than other medical degrees. It does not mean pharmacy degrees are cheap. But you can easily invest the money because; right after graduation, you can easily find a high-paying job worth your investment in the course.
6. Online pharmacy degrees make studying easier: You can do a pharmacy degree from anywhere in the world. An online pharmacy degree removes the physical barrier between the students and the universities. You can reap the benefits of an online pharmacy degree as much as studying offline. Moreover, the virtual option is becoming more popular, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
7. Plenty of pharmacy specializations to choose from: You are not limited to general pharmacy degrees. One can choose from a variety of disciplines for one’s career and studies.
- Community Pharmacy
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Pharmacy Administration
- Research Pharmacy
- Addiction Pharmacy
Types of Pharmacy courses and duration
| Course Name | Abbreviation | Duration of course |
| Bachelor of Pharmacy | B. Pharm | 4 years |
| Diploma in Pharmacy | D. Pharm | 3 years |
Eligibility criteria for Pharmacy courses in India
To do a Pharmacy course in India after class 12, all the aspirants should meet the following eligibility criteria for taking admissions.
| Course Name | B.Pharm | D. Pharm |
| Academic Requirement | 10+2 in Science Stream | 10+2 in Science Stream |
| Subject requirement | Physics, Chemistry and Biology | Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Mathematics |
| Minimum Aggregate Score requirement | 50% and more | 40% and more |
| Entrance Test Score | State-Level or University-Level Entrance Test | University-Level Entrance Test |
Career Prospects and Job Opportunities in Pharmacy
After pursuing your B.Pharm degree, you can work in the Government sector as well as Private Sector. One can also start your own business by getting a pharmacist license. The career prospects and job opportunities for students who have done their pharma course and a degree in India are as follows:
- Bio-Technology Industries
- Drug Therapist
- Drug Inspector
- Hospital Drug Coordinator
- Health Inspector
- Making Prescription to patients
- Pharmacist
- Research Officer
- Scientist
- Pathological lab
- Research and Development
Best Pharmacy Colleges in India
India is home to many esteemed colleges and universities that offer pharmacy degrees at various levels, i.e. undergraduate, post-graduate, and diploma. Check out this list of the best Pharmacy colleges in India, their courses, and their respective course fees.
| Name of the College | Courses Offered | Annual Course Fees |
| Kaziranga University, Assam | B. Pharm D. Pharm | 1,00,000+20,000(Admission Fees) 80,000+20,000 (Admission Fees) |
| Quantum University, Roorkee | B. Pharm D. Pharm | 98,500 85,000 |
| Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai | B. Pharm D. Pharm | 2,00,000 1,30,000 |
| Guru Kashi University, Bhatinda | B. Pharm D. Pharm | 75,000 65,000 |
| Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai | B. Pharm | 1,78,000 |
| Narasaraopeta Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guntur | B. Pharm | 50,000 |
| Moradabad Institute of Technology, Moradabad | B. Pharm D. Pharm | 1,33,000 90,000 |
| Uttranchal University, Dehradun | B. Pharm D. Pharm | 1,05,000 70,000 |
| Shyam University, Dausa | B. Pharm D. Pharm | 1,20,000 1,20,000 |
| Swami Vivekanand Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chandigarh | B. Pharm D. Pharm | 99,000 75,000 |
| Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar | B. Pharm | 1,30,000 |
Many colleges across India provides degree and diploma courses for Pharmacy. The above colleges are just a glimpse of the best colleges for Pharmacy in India.
So we are clear now about the scope of pharma courses in the health sector in the year 2021 and the eligibility, types of pharma courses and the best colleges to pursue this discipline. I would lastly like to add about the salary after doing a pharma course. The average salary of a pharmacist in India depends upon the qualifications, area of specializations, place of employment, skills and training received and much more. With good experience and a developed skill set, pharmacists can expect an annual salary of 4,50,000 to 7,00,000, which is quite good.
