11,June 2020
M. Pharm Career Scope in India
M.Pharm is a 02 year post graduate program after B.Pharm. Candidates after doing PG in Pharmacy get expertise in practical and get command on specialized field. The career options after M.pharm are quite diverse. M.pharm course offers a lot of specialization options from which one can choose the most preferred one. M.pharm candidate can get jobs in both, in government sector as well as in private.
The different fields where an M.Pharm Candidate can be hired in are:
- Government Sector
- Academics
- Entrepreneurship
- Manufacturing
- Research & Development
- Quality control and Quality Assurance
- Drug Regulatory Affairs (DRA)
- Formulation Development and Analytical Development
- Marketing and sales
- Hospital pharmacy/ Clinical pharmacy/ Community Pharmacy
- Clinical trials
- Pharmacovigilance
Government Sector
Following job options are available in Government sector for an M.pharm graduates.
Academics
In India a number of pharmacy colleges are present. Pharmaceutical postgraduate students are suitable candidates for teaching. One has to develop new pharmacy skills in a very reliable place. The original salary could be as small as 15k–30k per month with M.Pharm credentials, but the job may be very pleasant with multiple benefits like accommodation and holidays. In terms of quality of life and work flexibility, it might be a good career. One will also be able to engage in research work in the teaching field and can enroll in part-time doctoral programs while teaching graduate students.
Entrepreneurship
Currently, India's pharmaceutical industry is the third largest in volume worldwide. The future of the Indian pharmaceutical industry is very promising.. Several MNC pharmaceutical companies have fairly good market access in India compared to other countries.
There are plenty of reasons for start-up culture to be rare in the pharmaceutical industry. There are a lot of regulations in place the product has to be defect free, and then there will be expensive tools and machinery. Few entrepreneurial Themes are:
- Active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturing
- Manufacturing od excipients and raw materials
- Production of biological products
- Manufacturing on Sub-Contraction basis
- Sub-contraction for R&D
- Production of new formulations
Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical manufacture involves all drugs in different dosage forms and cosmetics. Many small companies with long working hours in some of them are supposed to have high work pressure. Employment locations can range from small town industrial locations to large towns. Pharmaceutical manufacturing Industry provides a good future in manufacturing of medicines and pharmaceutical products. One will get good salaries after becoming approved Chemist.
Quality control (QC), Quality Assurance (QA) & Regulatory Affairs
QA/QC job involves implementation and documentation of methods and procedures for inspecting, testing, and evaluating the processed materials, partially finished or finished products. Quality control and quality assurance is required to maintain efficacy and safety in production of pharmaceutical products. Regulatory affairs profile involves preparation of dossiers for exporting drugs into foreign countries. M.pharm with DRA (Drug Regulatory Affairs or Pharmacovogilance and few years of expirence in the pharmaceutical can really help in good career and financial growth.
Research & Development Analytical R&D and Formulation Development (F&D)
R&D job profile involves role in Medicine, biotech and agricultural sectors Research and development profile involves research in formulations, drug discovery, clinical research, new drug targets, delivery systems, new mechanisms, discovery of new drugs biosafety and bioavailability studies, etc. Traditional research involving the research in formulations, M.Pharm with specialization in Pharmaceutical Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Biotechnology will help to enter the Analytical R&D field.
Candidates in Pharmaceutical or Pharmaceutical Chemistry M.pharm specialization can enter the field of Formulation Production (F&D).F & D is just as important as discovery of new drug moiety. It involves identification of better and new formulation, Combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients
Sales & Marketing
There are plenty of jobs in the Sales and Marketing. This can be a perfect opportunity for students who enjoy work with people and help consumers find useful solutions to their requirements. This job profile is suitable for a dynamic, proactive person and who has good communication skills. PMT jobs can also be acquired for M. Pharm applicants with a specialty in Pharmacology or MBA graduates. This job profile includes market analysis, market knowledge, strategy making, marketing, sales and financial materials, scientific research, and so on. There is a decent wage structure too. Above all, the rewards are very lucrative for good results. Of course, the work is tough, but also satisfying.
Community pharmacy/Hospital Pharmacy
Community or hospital pharmacy involves counseling of patients, advising them about drug interactions, dosage forms, instructions for taking medicines. Hospital pharmacy is good career option even after completion of graduation. This field requires considerable skills and knowledge as this is very critical role. In India the scope of community pharmacy is not very good but slowly it is becoming popular day by day. Government and pharmacy council of India are taking steps to improve the conditions.
Clinical trials
Clinical trial job profile includes implementation of data management plans as per the project protocol, case report, analyze and evaluation of clinical data It also involve design consultation and development of clinical trials protocols.
Pharmacovigilance
Pharmacovigilance is defined as the prevention and study of Adverse Drug reactions or in simple terms it is called as drug safety. Due to Pharmacovogilance studies many drugs are taken off or not even brought in to the market. After M.pharm one can go for pharmacovigilance as career, as this field has a lot of opportunities. The government supports and helps to implement quality systems in all medicinal companies that manufacture medicine.
Author
Preeti Maan
(Associate Professor)