CAREER OPPORTUNITIES PHARMACY PRACTICE
The demand for trained pharmacy professionals has significantly increased in recent years due to the phenomenal growth of the health care services/ pharmaceutical industries. Ageing population, rising trends in chronic illnesses, enhanced insurance cover and higher disposable income are major contributing factors. Pharmacists are becoming more actively engaged in drug therapy decision-making and pharmaceutical care. There is a rising demand for pharmacists in a wide variety of occupational settings.
Following are some of the numerous and diverse career options available to PharmD/ MPharm (Pharmacy Practice) graduates.
1. Clinical Pharmacy Practice:
Pharmacists are increasingly partnering with physicians in assuming responsibility for medication therapy management, especially in chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension. Specialists are emerging in paediatrics, critical care, cardiology, surgery, psycopharmacy, neurology, infectious diseases and drug information.
2. Community Pharmacy:
Community pharmacists often constitute the first line of health care. In addition to dispensing medications and monitoring patients for adverse effects and drug interactions, pharmacists provide important .
3. Public Services:
State and Central Government Agencies such as State Pharmacy Councils, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) require skilled pharmacists as regulators.
4. Home Healthcare:
Patients formerly treated in a hospital setting are now receiving professional home care. Pharm.D/M.Pharm (Pharmacy Practice) graduates can dispense medication and assist in administration of intravenous antibiotics, pain management medication and chemotherapy. Pharmacists can potentially follow practices already prevalent in developed countries in monitoring the patient’s progress, adjusting therapy as needed.
5. Hospital Pharmacy:
Pharmacists in hospitals have a tremendously expanded role within this traditional role. Pharmacist manage operations and play a decisive role in Pharmacy administration.
6. Managed care:
Popular in developed countries, managed care is a cost effective, comprehensive and integrated health care plan that emphasizes on preventive care. Optimization of drug therapy, development of drug information, evaluation of therapeutic protocols, patient consultation and reducing avoidable hospital visits dominate the managed care environment.
7. Pharmaceutical Industry:
Pharmaceutical industry recognizes the need for technical proficiency among product development personnel. Additionally, skills in research and development provides numerous opportunities. Pharm Ds and M Pharms are actively recruited by major pharmaceutical manufacturers for managing pharmacovigilance, clinical trials, medical writing, medical affairs etc.
8. Pharmacoeconomics:
Society’s demand for experts in pharmaco-economics is steadily increasing. Governmental agencies, health insurance providers, professional associations, hospital administration departments, health care consultancy organizations, pharmaceutical companies are likely to recruit more experts in pharmaco-economics.
9. Pharmacy Education:
Pharm.D curriculum offers a strong foundation in health sciences. Pharm.D graduates regularly join various colleges that impart clinical pharmacy education and research.
10. Specialized Area Opportunities:
Pharmacists with expertise in specialized areas such as consultancy, legal practice, drug information, poison control and pharmacy affairs are gaining ground with time. PharmD and MPharm graduates can pursue PhD to enter academic professions.
11. Research and Postdoc Opportunities:
Pharm.D graduates are eligible to directly join for Postdoc program in various foreign universities.
12. Foreign Pharmacy Licensure Examinations:
Pharm.D and M.Pharm (Pharmacy Practice) graduates are eligible to write various foreign pharmacy licensure examinations including in USA. It is one of the mandatory component of the licensure process of most of the Western countries and is used by the boards of pharmacy as part of their assessment of a candidate’s competence to practice as a pharmacist.