Pharma an alluring career option now

The current pandemic has brought the entire world to its knees and the whole world has observed the adverse catastrophe of this global pandemic. As the healthcare sector across the globe is growing, it has opened great career opportunities to thousands of students of pharmaceutical science because the rate of growth of the pharmaceutical sector is interlinked and is directly proportional to the growth of the healthcare sector.

According to IBEF, Indian pharmaceutical sector supplies over 50% of global demand for various vaccines and also states that India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally. In the current scenario, the demand for medicines is increasing day by day, so the employment in the pharma sector is also rising. According to government statistics, over 300 institutions impart diplomas or degrees to nearly 20,000 students in India every year. Indian pharmaceutical industry is one of the largest pharma industries in the world and this widens the scope of Pharma studies in India and abroad. As per the report of IES (Indian Economic Survey) 2021, in the next decade the domestic market is expected to grow 3x. India's domestic pharmaceutical market is estimated at U$ 41 billion in 2021 and is likely to reach $ 65 billion by 2024 and further expand to reach $ 120-130 billion by 2030.

In India, Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is the regulatory body which has been designing the education regulations pertaining to Pharmacy which outlines the conditions to be followed by pharmacy colleges, Institutions and Universities. PCI grants approval to the universities and colleges in India to run the various programmes in the domain of Pharmacy. The PCI has well-defined standards, norms, and guidelines to be followed by the entities seeking approval from the regulatory Council.

As the world has witnessed the second wave, the number of affected patients is set to rise which naturally increases the requirement of pharmaceutical science professionals because the patients are staying in hospitals for a prolonged period. In the domain of Pharmaceutical Sciences, students can pursue bachelor's degree programme, diploma programme, master degree programme and doctoral-level programme.

Bachelor Studies

Pharmaceutical science offers a wide range of opportunities. Interested candidates can pursue their career in Bachelor of Pharmacy programme and can study major areas like are Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Pharmaceutics Pharmaceutical Analysis, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology, Computer Applications in Pharmacy, Environmental Science, Communication Skills and Biochemistry etc.

Post Graduate Studies

The Post Graduates process for the Pharmacy programs includes a written test. The national level entrance test for admission to the Masters Level Pharmacy programs is GPAT (Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test). The National Testing Agency (NTA) organizes this test every year for admission in M Pharma Programs.

Career Options

In the rising demand of pharma Industry in India, Pharma students have oceans of career opportunities Hospital pharmacist & Manager, Community Pharmacist Drug Control Administrator, Drug Inspector, Pharmaceutical Marketing Representative, Research Manager, Health Inspector, Chemical Analyst, Drug Technician, Drug Therapist, Customs Officer, Pharma Data Analyst, Trainer, Assistant Professor, Food and Drug Administrator, Hospital Drug Administrator, etc. there are plenty of options to choose your career wisely.

Opportunities

Students can easily find jobs after completing their graduation. Both Central and State Government hospitals and private hospitals need pharmacists. It is an easy task for brighter students to get employment in Hospitals, Labs and Various Pharma Companies. There are lots of private hospitals like Apollo, Fortis etc. which need lots of Pharmacists in their Pharmacy. As internet users are increasing in India rapidly the online pharmacy stores are more on demand. E-commerce pharmacists going to be a big pharmacy career options for students

Pharmaceutical sector is likely to offer promising and enriching careers in the post-Covid-19 scenario. Pharmaceutical industry is likely to offer promising and enriching careers for young minds in the fields of pharmaceutical and healthcare sector at the global level with lucrative salary packages.

(Writer is Vice-Chancellor, Sanskriti University)