How to Become a Pharmacist in India?

Types of Pharmacists

1. Community Pharmacists – 

They work in and maintain the pharmacies. They are also known as Retail Pharmacists and generally fill prescriptions for patients over the counter. 

2. Speciality Drug Pharmacists – 

They specialize in administering medicines for complex diseases and usually work directly with doctors. 

3. Ambulatory Care Pharmacist – 

These Pharmacists specialize in administering medicines in patient care such as dialysis, therapies, etc. 

4. Informatics Pharmacist – 

These Pharmacists are in non-patient medicine handling. They integrate technology in medicine storage, distribution, and measurement.

5. Hospital Pharmacists – 

They work in hospitals or affiliated pharmacies. They generally fill doctor prescriptions for inpatient care. 

6. Nuclear Pharmacists – 

They handle medicines that contain nuclear materials. They use drugs in combination with radiological equipment and treat severe illnesses like cancer. 

7. Home Care Pharmacists – 

These pharmacists administer medicines in-home settings. They also specialize in nutritional administration. 

8. Veterinary Pharmacists – 

Vet Pharmacists fill medicine prescriptions for pet and animal care. 

9. Research/Academic Pharmacists – 

Academic Pharmacists work as lecturers in universities and colleges. They can also work in academic research. 

Skills Required to Become a Pharmacist

• Good Communication and Interpersonal skills
• Understanding of Clinical terms
• Ability to multitask
• Integrity and Compliance
• Great attention to detail
• Basic computer skills

Roles and Responsibilities of a Pharmacist

• Pharmacists work with doctors, nurses, and specialists by providing prescribed drugs to administration.
• They fill prescriptions, advise generic drugs for minor health concerns, and sell over-the-counter medicines. 
• They ensure quality drugs are provided for patient care. 
• They advise patients on how to take medicine, and side effects, and address their concerns. 

Eligibility to Become a Pharmacist

• Completed +2 or 12th standard in the Science stream with biology as the main subject.
• 2-year Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm.) course or
• 4-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.) program in different specializations like Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Ayurveda, etc. 
• 2-year Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm.)
• 2-year Post Graduate Diploma in Pharmacy (PGDP) 

How to Become a Pharmacist in India? A Step-by-Step Guide

Here is a step-by-step guide to becoming a Pharmacist in India. 

• After completing 10th, aspiring candidates must take up 12th standard in the science stream with biology as the main subject.
• Candidates must enrol in Bachelor in Pharma (B.Pharm.) or Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm.) course in an Indian institution. 
• Some Pharmacy institutions require candidates to clear entrance examinations to secure admission to Bachelor’s program. 
• After completing the bachelor’s program, candidates can study further by enrolling in a Master’s program in different specializations. 
• After completing either bachelor’s or Masters’s in Pharmacy, candidates should select the industry they need to work in. 
• Pharmacists can work in different companies involved in Pharmaceuticals, Pharma distributors and retailers, Research organizations, and institutions.

Specializations in Pharmacy

• Pharmaceutics
• Pharmacology
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Pharmacognosy
• Biopharmaceutics
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Cosmeceuticals
• Biopharmaceutics
• Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
• Phytomedicine, etc. 

Career Scope of a Pharmacist

The career growth of a Pharmacist greatly depends on the education of the candidate. Some of the popular designations of a Pharmacist are. 

• Hospital Pharmacists
• Pharma Scientist
• Pharma Sales Representative
• Drug Quality Analyst
• Retail Pharmacist
• Drug Inspector
• Computational Pharmacist, etc

Salary of a Pharmacist in India

The average salary of a Pharmacist in India is INR 6 LPA. The entry-level salary of a Pharmacist ranges from INR 3 LPA to 4.5 LPA depending on academic accomplishments. Depending on the experience and specialization, the salary of a Pharmacist ranges up to INR 15 LPA. Top industries hiring Pharmacists are Hospitals, Drug retailers and distributors, Pharma manufacturers, etc. 

Top Pharmacy Colleges in India

Here is a list of a few top colleges to get a Pharmacy degree:

• Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal
• JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty
• Oxford College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru
• Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of pharmacy, Mumbai
• SRM College of Pharmacy, Kanchipuram
• Poona College of Pharmacy, Pune
• JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru
• Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur
• Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad
• Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai

Pros and Cons

Pros of Being a Pharmacist are:

• Job security
• Less stressful in the medical field
• Good work environment
• Opportunity to work part-time while studying

Cons of being a Pharmacist are:

• It is a repetitive and boring job
• Low salary and compensation
• Needs to stand and work for long hours

Summary

• A Pharmacist is an integral part of a healthcare system. They mainly deal with drugs and medicines for patient care.
• Pharmacy is a unique career option and less stressful in the medical profession. A lot of skills need to be cultivated over academics to be good at pharma subjects.