<p>For every student with admiration for healthcare as a profession, pharmacy as an option is of worth consideration. Pharmacy deals with discovery, development and use of medication for patient's care. Pharmaceutical Industry is valued at Rs 1,00,000 crore and annually growing at 12 per cent. It is the third largest in volume and 13th largest in domestic consumption value. It offers high opportunities of growth in the field of commercial roles, R & D and clinical studies/ trials. India is recognized as global hub for manufacturing, R & D work and clinical trials of new molecules. With advances in genetic engineering technology, biosimilars such as human insulin for diabetes, monoclonal antibodies for cancer treatment, have emerged having value of more than $5 billion per brand.<br><br>During graduation course in pharmacy, B.Pharm, a detailed journey of API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) from its synthesis till marketing to the consumers in the finished form such as tablet, syrup, injectable or topical formulations is studied in detail. The core courses such as Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Analysis provide insights into properties of API, its action on the body, its role in various diseases, adverse drug reactions, various dosage forms, their standardisation, isolation of active constituents from plants and their characterisation, etc.<br><br>With in-depth knowledge of various diseases and drugs for their treatment, a pharmacist has career options in fields such as Production, formulation development, Analytical method development, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Medico-marketing, Herbal Drug Development of the pharmaceutical Industry. By upgrading the skills in IPR, patents, regulatory guidelines, one can pursue career in patent or regulatory affairs department of industry. For those having interest in the business side of pharma industry, options in sales and marketing remain open after acquiring a post graduation qualification in management. For jobs in Research and development (R & D), a qualification of Masters or doctorate in Pharmacy with specialisation in one of the core areas is highly desirable. Specialisation in molecular biology at post graduation, equips you with research in biotechnology based products such as human insulin for diabetes or monoclonal antibodies for treatment of cancer. There are many job opportunities for a pharmacist in Clinical Research sector for testing a new drug or its formulation in humanbeing.<br><br><strong>Career Prospects</strong><br>The job avenues for a pharmacist are open in public and private sector. They are mostly absorbed in by government hospitals and health care departments. Besides they have also ample avenues in private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. They can also work in pharmaceutical industries. Various government departments like Railways and Defense also recruit pharmacists in their departmental hospitals.<br><br>Appointments are also available in sale promotion work as medical representatives. M.pharm or Ph.D holders are normally absorbed in research work, to develop new useful drugs, in laboratories and in production work in pharmaceutical industry and analyzing them for purity and strength. Pharmacist may also take up teaching as a profession as lectures in pharmacy colleges and universities.<br><br><strong>Remuneration</strong><br>Pharmacists get reasonable salary in government and private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic laboratories etc. The average starting salary of a pharmacists ranges between Rs.6000 - 10000 per month in hospitals and in clinics. Those working in private hospitals and clinics have more income than those of government employees. Those who are doing private practice are earning handsome returns depending upon their skill and popularity. Those working in private sector pharmaceutical companies have basic pay of Rs 12000 to Rs 20000 depending upon qualification and experiences. Medical Representatives are earning on an average Rs 10000 to Rs 15000 per months.<br><br><em>The author, Dr Supriya Shidhaye, is Principal, VES College of Pharmacy, Mumbai</em></p>
