29, March 2022
Career after Pharmacy Course – A Complete Guide
Introduction
Pursuing a medical career in India has always been considered top-tier. With so many scientific discoveries and research, medical professionals, no matter where they fit into the entire chain of processes, are in great demand in India. There has been a rising need for pharmacists in the last decade due to formulations of new-generation drugs. This line of profession is not only recession-proof but is also witnessing rapid growth in terms of breakthroughs and global development. Along with doctors, pharmacists play a major role in ailment prevention as well as treatment. A career in pharmacy as a whole is a very rewarding and stimulating one, with many new opportunities ahead. What makes it even more striking is the fact that we’re currently living amidst a global pandemic, and the need for effective healthcare is now more than ever, which makes it convenient for pharmacy professionals to learn and grow in the industry.
Work Areas after Pharmaceutical Study
In India, there are plenty of prospects available for students who have pursued pharmacy as a career. There are distinguished job profiles in top MNCs at handsome salary packages, and the recruitment spree of these companies are high. Given that this sector will always have openings available, it makes up a good choice if students go after this career. Let us look at some of the work areas available after studying pharmacy.
1. Government Jobs
Students who pursue Bpharma can later work as chief pharmacists, drug inspectors in government hospitals, railway hospitals, dispensaries etc. Students after B Pharma can also work as Sepoy Pharmacists if they wish to join the Indian Army. There are general government examinations that have open eligibility criteria for graduation, like SSC, CDS, and many more, which means students from any background, including pharmacy, can appear for the exam and apply for the said post if they so wish. Explore more about the Government job after Pharmacy Course
2. Pharmaceutical Practice
This includes working in the core sector as a full-time pharmacist, whether it is at a clinic, community hospital, or even a retail store. The area of work, in this case, does not digress at all from the actual course study. The main job of a practicing pharmacist ranges from supplying quality medicines, ensuring legal compliance of those medicines, checking the suitability as per the patient's condition mentioned in their prescriptions, and advising the patients about the use, routine, and reactions of the medicines under doctor's purview.
3. Sales Department
Pharmacists who work in the sales department usually hold the profile of a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative. Typically, they work as the employees of Healthcare Companies, Biotech Companies, or Pharma Manufacturing Companies and hold the responsibility of selling products to interested stakeholders. They convince influence and educate them about the plausible advantages of a particular product.
4. Production Department
Pharmacists can work as Production Officers or Technicians in regulated markets in the pharmacy sector. The job role consists of supervising the manufacturing and packaging process, handling granulation operation, compression operation, inventory management and more alike. The prospects of working in the production department due to its primary, mandatory requirement in enabling the medicine retail process.
5. Entrepreneurship
Becoming an entrepreneur is always a viable career option for brooding Pharmacists who want to make a name for themselves in the industry. One can always start with opening up a small retail shop, to begin with, and venturing further into the bigger segment. They can work as licensed chemists and pharmacists.
6. Academics
Fresh graduates of the B Pharma course can also take a master’s programme in the specialization they’re interested in. The benefits of doing so are reaping even more lucrative prospects after their higher education is complete. The scope of work expands and so does the compensation. Students can also do a PhD and can take up more research-oriented roles if they wish to, which allows them to be at the top level of the pharmaceutical industry through their gained knowledge.
7. Research And Development Sector
If you're interested in the more deep analysis of drugs and medicines, you can enrol as a Research Associate and take up more scientific roles. Global pharmaceutical companies like Cipla, Lupinetc invest heavily in the research sector and a career in this line is highly promising and valued. The main work area comprises drug testing, formulating results, and preparing analysis, regulating documents, filing patents and more.
8. Medical Writing And Documentation
Medical writing is also gaining traction in recent days because there’s plenty of need for complex paperwork at various stages. Medical professionals who are adept in writing scientific documents, or any other material that makes use of their expertise, research, and understanding to deliver information to the right people at the right level are broadly in demand.
9. Cosmetic Industry
Cosmetic procedures are very much in lately, due to the superficial beauty standards everyone wants an aesthetic appearance. Pharmacists are beyond classified to perform these procedures that range from lip augmentation to dermal fillers. They can also oversee the quality of cosmetics for different skin conditions and formulate drugs required in cosmetic products, perfumes etc. They usually hold the roles of Cosmetic Pharmacists.
10. Quality Control And Assurance
QC/QA Officers in the pharmaceutical industry oversee activities like analysis and ensuring the stability of everything involved, from raw materials to finished products to packaged goods, reviewing the required documentation, ensuring compliance to industry standards, experience in IPQA, HPLC, etc. These are highly valued professionals and nothing misses from their prerogative.
11. Corporate Sector
There are N number of companies that recruit Pharmacists in various roles, mostly ranging from marketing to managerial, especially in the corporate sector. Other roles involve conducting studies on drug safety, dosage forms, trials, and the entire discovery process. Corporate Pharmacists earn lucrative packages and get to work in top-ranking companies and global corporations.
12. Packaging Industry
Pharmacists undertake the responsibility of preparing the final form of the unit pack to ensure protection from any kind of damage or microbial invasion. Packaging is a very crucial element in the pharma industry as it enables a drug to retain its characteristics and healing properties.
Popular Job Profiles after Pharmacy Course
While there are endless possibilities to roles that a pharmacy professional can hold, let's look at some of the most common profiles that they get placed at.
- Health Inspector
- Chemical/Drug Inspector
- Drug Therapist
- Clinical Research Organizations
- Clinical Pharmacist
- Medical Scripting
- Hospital Drug Coordinator
- Regulatory Affairs
- Wholesaler
- R&D Executive
- Packaging Department
- Hospital Pharmacists
- Healthcare Administrator
- Drug Inspector
CONCLUSION:
In this article, we have covered all possible areas of employment after the completion of a degree in pharmacy. There is no doubt in the fact that pharmacy is a promising career option, and if you’ve just completed your 12th from the medical stream, you might want to get yourself enrolled in a pharmacy course!
B. Pharm is a fantastic degree that gives you a lot of options to choose from. You have the option of continuing your education, starting a business, or starting your professional practice right away. And there are a wide range of exciting careers in this medical line. It's entirely up to you! However, it is strongly advised that you continue your studies and make the most of the information and experience you have obtained through your B. Pharm degree.