From R&D activities in the laboratories to quality analysis of the drugs and vaccines, the role of pharmacists is very diverse. They contribute in clinical services, manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs and many other sectors, says Dr Ambuj Kumar
The pharmacists play significant roles in the health sector and their prime responsibility is to interact with the patients and attendees and dispense medications as per the prescriptions of doctors concerned. They also brief about the dosage and timing to the patients.
In western countries, pharmacists are next to doctors and they advise physicians and nurses in choosing the right medications. A doctor evaluates the health of a patient, diagnoses the ailments and inspects the reasons of a disease, while it is the responsibility of a pharmacist to thoroughly check all the reports, coordinates with the doctor and understands that what he/she has diagnosed. Then only, a pharmacist prescribes the medicines. But unfortunately, India has yet to adapt this comprehensive approach while all the advanced countries have already embraced this concept and they are quite practical in implementing it.
In the manufacturing sector, their role is very wide. From complete R&D activities in the laboratories to quality analysis of the drugs and vaccines, the role of pharmacists is very diverse in the pharmaceutical sector.
Skills Required
In modern times, pharmacists play multi-faceted roles. They contribute in clinical services, manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs and many. To play such a variety of roles, one should have good analytical skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, coordination capabilities, a humble attitude, apart from the good knowledge of various chemicals and compositions which can be acquired through a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) and Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm) further hones one’s skills.
Demand in India
There are unparalleled career opportunities for pharmacists in India as the sector is experiencing 15 per cent annual growth rate and many market experts have predicted that soon it will supersede the IT sector. The demand of Indian medicines is rampant in America, South East Asia, Central Asia and Africa, the total export had already crossed Rs12,000 crore figure and many more Indian pharmaceutical companies are venturing into the export.
Besides, India’s medical tourism is also on an all time high and emerging as a driving force for the health and medicine sector. Apart from this, after the advent of organised retailing in India, many national and international pharmaceutical retail chains are increasing their physical presence in all parts of the country. Apollo, Religare and Guardian Pharmacy are just a few names in this league. Hence, the demand for pharmacists in India is increasing gradually and consistently.
Scope
The growth of health sector is harbinger to pharmaceutical sector and this cumulative growth determines the rising demand of pharmacists both in India and the rest of the world. B.Pharm or diploma in Pharmacy is the minimum qualifications which make one eligible to start a career as a pharmacist. Depending upon the interest and skills, one can explore opportunities in places like pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, laboratories and retail chains. If one holds a master’s degree (M.Pharm), then growth prospects can be really overwhelming.
After M.Pharm one can also carve a niche in the education sector or can apply for a fellowship programme in the top universities of the world. Also, there is huge demand for pharmacists in research institutes, not only in India, but across the world.
(The writer is director of Institute of Professional Studies and Research).