Doctor of Pharmacy - Eligibility, Admission, Syllabus, Top colleges

A Doctor of Pharmacy, or Pharm.D, is a six-year programme for individuals pursuing a doctoral degree in pharmacy. Students will have five years of educational study and one year of internship time during the curriculum. The Government of India and the Pharmacy Council of India established the Doctor of Pharmacy, or Pharm.D, as a six-year specialized pre-Ph.D. postgraduate doctorate in 2008.

The Doctor of Pharmacy was developed with the goal of improving medical pharmacy services in India because it is the only pharmacy service that has close communication with the patient health care system. Candidates enrolling in the programme must finish a five-year academic and hospital-based pedagogic university course, accompanied by a one-year internship training programme in health facilities, which includes continuous practicals and research projects. Pharm.D. is a postgraduate degree, and students who complete the curriculum can immediately participate in a P.hD programme. Pharm.D. students are permitted to use the prefix “Dr.” in their names. Doctor of Pharmacy candidates have previously spent a considerable amount of time training in areas linked to direct care and research, so they are practice-ready.

For newcomers, the average yearly salary package is between INR 3,00,000 and INR 10,00,000. It is dependent on the industry’s or company’s size and location. Home health care, community pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, geriatric pharmacy, managed care, governmental agencies, and others are among the best recruitment process firms.


Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) Eligibility

Eligibility requirements can be regarded as a combination of requirements that applicants must meet in order to be considered for a particular course. Students must fulfill the minimum eligibility requirements in order to be admitted to the Pharm D. programme:

Applicants must have completed 10+2 with physics, chemistry, and biology/maths as compulsory courses from a recognized board.

Students must hold a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy (B. Pharm) from a recognized university.

Students who are currently pursuing a D. Pharm (Diploma in pharmacy) are able to qualify for lateral admission into the programme.


Doctor of Pharmacy Admissions

Several higher education institutions around the country provide admission to Pharm.D programmes. The admissions process and eligibility requirements may range from one university to the next. Most colleges, however, use GPAT results as a criterion for admission to this programme. Candidates who pass the first round of admission with valid GPAT results must go through counseling and individual interviews. While some universities provide admittance based on a student’s merit qualification, which is their marks in a bachelor’s in the same field as the pharm.D programme. In addition, several universities have additional admission exams to accept students to the Pharm.D programme.


PharmD Course Overview

The period, qualification, entry requirements, colleges, top recruitment, job profiles, fee, and salary are all highlights of the course.

Course typeDoctorate 
Duration6 years
Examination TypeSemester wise
Eligibility10+2 with minimum 50% marks with science stream
Admission processEntrance exam
Course FeeINR 6,00,000 – INR 20,00,000
Average Salary (per month)INR 3,00,000 – INR 10,00,000
Top Recruiting companiesHome health care, community pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, geriatric pharmacy, managed care, governmental agencies, etc.
Job PositionPharmacists, drug experts, retail pharmacists, hospital pharmacy directors, hospital staff pharmacists, clinical pharmacists, etc.

What is Pharm.D About?

 The research of drugs, medicine, and drug-related practice is covered in depth in the Pharm.D programme.

  • There are two parts to the course. Academic study is included in the first step. This stage will last for a total of 5 years. The internships and residency training, which includes pharmacy practise or clinical pharmacy service, is the second step.
  • The Pharmacy Council of India regulates the programme, which was first offered in India in 2008.
  • The science and art of distributing medicines are combined in a Doctor of Pharmacy.
  • Commercial and medical pharmacy students are recognised as practical.
  • After finishing the course, individuals will have obtained abilities in diagnosis, therapeutic drug use, disease therapy, and disease selection, among other things.
  • They do out activities such as patient monitoring, disease diagnosis, and so on.

Why Pursue a PharmD Degree?

The PharmD programme has its own set of benefits, but it also gives you a benefit in the job market. PharmD graduate students are in high demand.

  • Public engagement: Pharmacists play a vital role in the community by contributing to the healthcare and well-being of patients and citizens. They also catered to minorities.
  • Many employment possibilities: This field offers a wide range of career opportunities. Pharmacists can work in a variety of settings, including businesses, nursing homes, hospitals, colleges, and the medical field.
  • They are a member of the healthcare workforce and collaborate with other experts to ensure that care is delivered in a consistent manner. They contribute significantly to the reduction of chronic health management. They work in clinics as well, counselling patients.
  • Growth:  The pharmacy sector is booming at a breakneck pace these days. According to a survey by IBEF, India’s pharmacy sector is forecast to rise to USD 65 billion by 2024 and quadruple to USD 130 billion by 2030. As a result, more job prospects are created.
  • Accessibility: Work hours are flexible, which helps to balance work and personal life. There are day shifts, night shifts, seven-on-seven-off shifts, and so on. You can work one of the shifts that are most convenient for you.
  • Fleibility: Work provides autonomy because you can select your workplace and working hours. You can work for someone else or create your own company.

Who should enrol in a Pharm.D. programme?

  • Those engaged in a career in pharmacy should enrol in the Pharm.D programme.
  • This course is for students who are concerned in dealing with multiple drug regulatory agencies and avoiding medical or drug overdose.
  • This curriculum is required for students who want to work in the pharmaceutical industry.

PharmD Entrance Exams

Students must pass national or university-level entrance exams to be admitted to the programme. The following are some of the PharmD admission exams:

  • NIMSEE: The NIMS university administers a 2-hour national level examination.
  • GPAT:  The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers a three-hour online exam at the national level.
  • BV – CET: At the university level, Bharati Vidyapeeth University administers common entrance exams.
  • SRMJEE: SRM Institute of Science and Technology administers a university-level admissions test.

PharmD Top Colleges in India

In India, there are around 250 Pharm.D. colleges. Entrance exams are used to determine admission to the majority of Pharm.D colleges. The best Pharm.D institutions in India are listed below.

College NameCityAverage annual feesAverage annual salary
Chandigarh universityChandigarhINR 2,00,000INR 7,10,000
NIMS universityJaipurINR 1,50,000INR 4,00,000
Manipal college of pharmaceutical sciencesManipalINR 4,30,000INR 4,50,000
JSS college of pharmacyUdhagamandalamINR 2,84,000INR 3,20,000
LM college of pharmacyAhmedabadINR 1,75,000INR 3,00,000
Goa college of pharmacyPanjiINR 2,90,000INR 4,50,000
Poona college of pharmacyPuneINR 1,75,000INR 1,20,000
MM college of pharmacyAmbalaINR 1,36,000INR 1,40,000
SRM University of technologyKanchipuramINR 5,10,000INR 8,32,000
Bharti Vidyapeeth Deemed universityPuneINR 1,42,000INR 7,00,000

PharmD Syllabus

The Pharm.D. curriculum is divided into semesters. The curriculum is divided into five academic years, with two semesters in each year.

PharmD Subjects

SEMESTER 1SEMESTER 2
PharmaceuticsPharmaceutical organic chemistry
Human anatomy & physiologyPharmaceutical inorganic chemistry
Medical biochemistryRemedial mathematics / biology
SEMESTER 3SEMESTER 4
Pharmaceutical microbiologyCommunity pharmacy
PathophysiologyPharmacology 1
Pharmacognosy & PhytopharmaceuticalsPharmacotherapeutics 1
SEMESTER 5SEMESTER 6
Pharmaceutical AnalysisMedical chemistry
Pharmacology 2Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence
Pharmacotherapeutics 2Pharmaceutical formulations
SEMESTER 7SEMESTER 8
Hospital pharmacyClinical toxicology
Clinical pharmacyBiostatistics & research methodology
Pharmacotherapeutics 3Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics
SEMESTER 9SEMESTER 10
Pharmacoepidemiology & PharmacoeconomicClerkship project work (6 months)
Clinical researchProject work (6 months)
Clinical Pharmacokinetics & pharmacotherapeutic drug monitoringYear 6
Internship or residency training which includes posting in special units

Careers Opportunities after Pharm.D

Depending on their employment credentials and interests, individuals who complete their Doctor of Pharmacy studies are offered a variety of professional prospects. Individuals continue to support pharmacists in their daily activities by assisting them in the preparation of medications, helping with issue resolution, and assisting with the pharmacy’s daily operations. Doctor of Pharmacy is a programme for those who want to work in the healthcare field. Pharm D. students can find work in a variety of organizations and research institutions, as well as in a variety of positions. The following are some of the most common areas of work in a pharmacy, including in the public and private sectors:

Clinical Pharmacist

Hospital Pharmacy Director

Hospital Staff Pharmacist

Pharmacist

Pharmacist in Charge

Retail Pharmacist

Retail Staff Pharmacist

Drug Experts

Drug Interaction Specialists

Nutritionists

Medical Writer

Drug Writer

Lecturer

Drug Advisor

Pharmaceutical Advisor

Job profilesDescriptionAverage annual salary
PharmacistA pharmacist’s job is to make sure that the drugs that are delivered to patients are proper and of good quality. They must advise patients on how to take medications, when to take them, and how to take them.INR 2,88,000
Hospital pharmacy directorThe hospital pharmacy director’s responsibilities include drug distribution, drug control, patient safety, specialty clinics such as patient care, and so on.INR 3,90,000
Retail pharmacistThe hospital pharmacy director’s responsibilities include drug distribution, drug control, patient safety, specialty clinics such as patient care, and so on.INR 1,97,000
Drug expertA drug expert’s job is to draught medicine use policies, rules, and guidelines. They ensure that the healthcare system improves. distributing prescription information in the form of newslettersINR 5,80,000
Clinical pharmacistsClinical pharmacists’ job is to look after patients and keep track of their health. Assesses the efficacy of patients’ medications.INR 3,09,000

Future Scope of Pharm.D

The area of pharmacy offers a wide range of career opportunities. Candidates can pursue a P.hD. programme after finishing the Pharm D. programme. For Pharm D. students, there is a lot of opportunity to work in pharmaceuticals abroad. They must collaborate with doctors and pharmacists, which instills in them a feeling of accountability for pharmaceutical therapy management. One can work in various fields as a Pharm D. grad student:

Oncology:  Patients with cancer are reliant on a variety of medications to help them battle their illnesses. Professionals in this field are in high demand to aid medical doctors and counsel cancer patients because medical care is among the most complicated and ever-changing fields in the pharmaceutical business. They may also be necessary to assist in the monitoring of individuals undergoing drug trials.

Nuclear Pharmacy:  Nuclear pharmacy is the branch of pharmacy that deals with radioactive medications. These medications are utilized in treatments including PET scans and therapy processes for disorders such as cancer. Nuclear pharmacists have the skills and knowledge to appropriately monitor and administer these medications.

Psychiatric Pharmacy: Pharmacists who specialize in mental medications investigate how these drugs interact with other medicines and assist specialist doctors in prescribing these medicines by assisting them in correctly understanding the conditions in which the drugs will be effective and beneficial. They are trained in the specialities of psychiatric drug effects and treatment regimens, as well as the costs of these medications and how to encourage and assist patients in finding cost-effective alternatives.

Pediatric Pharmacy: Students who desire to concentrate in pediatric pharmacy must learn about pharmaceuticals that are prescribed for kids under the age of 18. They must learn how to alter a medication quantity for a child and which pharmaceuticals are safe for children to use. These experts also work with families to educate them on fitness & wellbeing issues that affect children.


FAQ’s for Pharm.D

What exactly is MPharmacy?

MSc pharmacy is a two-year postgraduate programme in pharmacy. The qualifying condition is that a student must pass B pharmacy with at least a 50% grade.

Is a pharm.D. the same as an MBBS?

Yes, Pharm.D students are allowed to use the title “Dr.” lawfully. Pharm.D. is comparable to M.pharm, but it is not comparable to MBBS. For JRF, SRF, and RA research equivalent, see the CSIR equivalent or the DAE equivalence.

Is it possible for me to start a medical store after getting my Pharm.D.?

A licensed pharmacist is required to operate a medical shop, therefore after earning your Pharm.D., you must register with your local pharmacy council and acquire a certificate (which takes about 45 days after registration), after which you can open a medical shop.

What government jobs are available for Pharm.D.s in India?

Drug inspectors, pharmacists, and other government positions for Pharm.D.s in India.

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