30,May 2020
M. Pharm Best Specialization and Career Options
Introduction
Before going on M. Pharmacy career scope, we should know about “Pharmacy”. “Pharmacy is the branch of health sciences that deals with the preparation and dispensing of drugs. The aim of pharmacy is the assurance of the safe and effective use of medicines”. Pharmacists are health professionals and the experts of pharmacy field; they have done their studies in medicines. They can use their knowledge of medicines for the benefit of patients and society.
In older ages, the pharmacists were engaged with dispensing of drugs only. But, the new era is of research and technology. Hence, the pharmacy syllabus cannot be concise to dispensing and preparations of drugs.
The modern pharmacy field includes the following disciplines:
- Pharmaceutics
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacognosy
- Pharmacy Practice
Courses & Duration
Pharmacy is one of the popular courses among the students after 12th class. Pharmacy can be varied from one country to another. In India, the academic course in pharmacy starts from diploma level to doctoral level.
Diploma Courses:
Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharm) – 2 years
Undergraduate Courses:
Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) – 4 years
Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) Lateral Entry – 3 years
Pharmacy (Hons.) – 4 years
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Ayurveda) – 4 years
Postgraduate Courses:
Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm) – 2 years
Pharm. D (Post Baccalaureate) – 3 years
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D) – 6 years
Doctoral Courses:
Ph.D in Pharmaceutical Sciences – 3 years (can be extended up to 5 years)
Specializations in M. Pharmacy
M. Pharmacy is a two years course that done after passing B. Pharmacy with 50% marks. The average starting salary after M. Pharmacy for fresher is around 15-25 thousand per month. In India, the scope of M. Pharmacy is good with right institute and right skill. The M. Pharmacy specializations are provided in various fields.
M. Pharmacy Specializations:
- Pharmaceutics
- Pharmacology
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Pharmacognosy
- Bio pharmaceutics
- Drug Regulatory Affairs
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Drug Discovery and Drug Development
- Master of Public Health
- Pharmaceutical Administration
- Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Assurance
- Pharmaceutical market & Management
- Pharmaceutical Technology
- Pharmaceutics
- Pharmacy Practices
- Phytopharmaceuticals & Natural Products
- Quality Assurance
Scope of M. Pharmacy Specialization in Various Subjects
Pharmaceutics - This field is related to production of medicines and technology that is used in production of drugs used in pharmaceutical companies. Master of Pharmacy degree in pharmaceutics has scope in the formulations of drugs, research in formulations and excipients, manufacturing, drug regulatory affairs. The starting salary can be lesser that may be ranging from 20 thousand to 30 thousand per month. But, your experience can reach you in good companies with higher package.
Pharmacology - This is evergreen subject. You have good scope in all working fields after M. Pharmacy in pharmacology from clinical hospitals to pharmaceutical companies. You can work in Pharma market research companies, patents or clinical trials, consultancy in Pharmacy, Drug research, drug regulatory affairs and Pharmacovigilance. Consultancy and Research based jobs are more gratifying. This specialization has highest of salary i.e. 25 thousand to 50 thousand per month depending upon the institute and skills. The career growth is good with this specialization.
Medicinal Chemistry - If you have interest in research and analysis of novel medicines, then this is one of the favored subjects for you. M. Pharm in medicinal chemistry has scope in various fields like research, quality control, analysis fields and development of new therapeutics. Ii has good demand in teaching also. The prospects of career growth are good with starting salaries range from 20 thousand to 45 thousand per month.
Pharmacognosy - M. Pharm in pharmacognosy is related to Natural products. In companies, jobs are limited in this field. Teaching field has some demand also. If you have degree from a good institute, then you can get jobs in labs of good companies like Dabur, Zandu and Himalaya. Depending upon your project, you can get job in chemistry based research too. You can do certificate courses of analysis, WIPO and clinical trial to widen your scope. If you do it from a poor institute, then it poses you a difficulty to find a good job in analysis, pharma research and chemistry research with starting salary from 12 thousand to 30 thousand per month.
Pharmacovigilance - India’s topmost pharma university NIPER offers this programme. You find job opportunities in metro cities mostly. Once you get placed, career growth is good provided that individual and company both perform well. The starting salary is 30 to 50 thousand per month.
Biotechnology Or Microbiology - M. Pharm in Biotechnology and microbiology are suitable course for some biotech based pharma Companies where biotechnology and microbiology research is the main focus. NIPER offers it. The starting salary ranges from 25 to 35 thousand rupees per month after doing from some reputed institutes.
Hospital Pharmacy If you have interest in retail pharmacy or clinical trials, then MS pharma or M. Pharm in hospital pharmacy is perfect for you. If you do this course from reputed institute, then you have good scope in clinical trials field. The starting salary may range from 20 to 35 thousand per month.
Career Scope in various fields after M. Pharm
Teaching - Good scope in government sector universities as well as in private pharmacy colleges . The work pressure in Private colleges is bit high.
Research - A good scope in research that involves drug discovery, formulations research, clinical research and bio-safety studies etc. Scope is always good for deserving candidates. Work pressure is moderate as you mostly work in R&D of well established companies. Future scope is good for deserving in India as well as foreign countries. Work Location is mostly metro cities of states.
Emerging Fields - There are other emerging scopes like Consultancy, Market research, clinical trials, pharmacovogilance after M. Pharm. Market Data research field predict the demand and supply trends, pharmacovigilance involves safety studies after launch of drug in the market. Consultancies are specialized in providing professional advises to Pharma companies for improvement of their performance. These fields pay good starting salary and good career growth for the deserving. Job Location is generally in and around metro cities of Delhi , Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
Quality Control - Quality assurance; quality control of the drug and adherence to guidelines is mandatory for industry. Job Location varies from small companies to MNC’s in small and metro cities. M. Pharm in pharmaceutical analysis and diploma in quality control after M. Pharm provides you better scope.
Production - You can get jobs in Pharma manufacturing Industry. The starting salary may be less in small company but in future you can get growth into bigger companies. Scope in production is better than teaching after M. Pharm. in pharmaceutics. A diploma in regulatory affairs will enhance your skills and scope in good job. Work pressure may be high in small companies with long working hours. Work location could vary from small towns to big cities.
Regulatory affairs - In regulatory affairs you have to prepare dossiers for exporting drugs into foreign countries. The scope in regulatory affairs is better than teaching. You can pursue courses related to your work to enhance skills and future opportunities. Work pressure varies with the regulatory requirements of company for time to time. Job location could vary from industrial locations in small towns to big cities.
Medical Devices Industry - As number of medical devices companies are less in India, the scope is somewhat lower than pharmaceutical production. You can get good salary after some experience in this field. Work pressure is high. You can find this type of jobs in industrial locations in small towns or big cities.
Government Sector - After M. Pharm, no specific Government jobs rather than drug inspector or pharmacists in government organizations. You can also give various common graduation based exams like SSC and UPSC. In states where pharmacist cadre exists, masters degree help in quicker promotion. A Drug inspector has starting salary from 50 to 65 thousand per month. The salary of Pharmacist may vary state to state. In central government, railways and ESIC hospitals, the starting salary is about 45000 which become more than 55 thousand after two years probation.
Other Fields - The other careers like marketing, Government jobs opportunities, starting own company, medical store etc may be opt after graduation or post graduation.
Final words - Scope after Master of Pharmacy finally depends on three things: Institute reputation, Individual skills, subject of specialization. Further, the certification courses in patent, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, HPLC etc. and good communication skills increase your chances to get job at better place.
Author
Dr. Shilpi Chauhan
(Assistant Professor)