The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the largest in the world, with most of the local production going into exports. As such, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many students, after completing their high school education, try to break into this mammoth industry. Each year, scores of students try to enrol in various pharmacy programs offered by pharmacy colleges in Jaipur and other cities in India.
In this blog, we explore the different types of pharmacy courses and specialisations on offer at the best pharmacy colleges in Rajasthan and other states of India, so read till the end.
Introduction to Pharma Courses
There are a bunch of pharma courses available in India at different levels at most pharmacy colleges in Jaipur and elsewhere – and all of them do more than just teach students how to dispense medicines. These courses take a scientific approach to teach subjects like pharmacology, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacognosy, biochemistry, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, pathology, biotechnology, etc. Pharmacy colleges in Jaipur and elsewhere also train students in practical skills like compounding, dispensing, prescribing, and counselling.
For the sake of brevity, we have provided the table below overviewing the 3 most popular pharmacy courses that you can find at the best pharmacy colleges in Jaipur and other parts of the country.
| Course Name | B Pharma | D Pharma | M Pharma |
| Full Form | Bachelor of Pharmacy | Diploma in Pharmacy | Master of Pharmacy |
| Level | Undergraduate | Undergraduate Diploma | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 4 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Eligibility Criteria | 50% or more marks in 10+2 with PCB | 50% or more marks in 10+2 with PCB | 50% or more marks in B Pharm |
| Admission Process | Merit + Entrance Test | Merit-based | Merit + Entrance Test |
Specialisations in Pharma Courses
There are quite a few specialised branches that one can choose from in the field of pharmacy. Pharmacy colleges in Jaipur and elsewhere offer a chance for you to pursue a career in these specialised fields of pharmacy with the required qualifications:
Clinical Pharmacy
This branch of pharmacy focuses on the direct care of patients. Clinical pharmacists work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare institutions, collaborating with doctors and other healthcare professionals to optimise drug therapy and improve patient outcomes. They also monitor drug safety, efficacy, interactions, and adverse effects. Clinical pharmacy requires a postgraduate degree or diploma in clinical pharmacy after completing an undergraduate course from pharmacy colleges in Jaipur or elsewhere.
Industrial Pharmacy
This branch of pharmacy deals with the research and development of new drugs. Involved in various stages of drug discovery, such as screening, synthesis, testing, analysis, and clinical trials, industrial pharmacists work in pharmaceutical companies or research institutes. They also work on developing innovative delivery systems, like patches and nanomedicines. A career in industrial pharmacy requires a postgraduate degree or diploma in industrial pharmacy or related fields from the best M pharm colleges in India after completing a B pharma course.
Community Pharmacy
This branch of pharmacy involves providing medicines and healthcare products to the general public. Community pharmacists are responsible for dispensing medicines as per prescriptions, providing advice on drug usage and dosage, managing inventory and records, and promoting health awareness and education. They can usually work in retail pharmacies or drug stores after obtaining a license from the State Pharmacy Council after completing any pharma course from pharmacy colleges in Jaipur or anywhere else.
Hospital Pharmacy
This is the branch of pharmacy that involves providing medicines and healthcare products to patients admitted to hospitals or other healthcare facilities. Hospital pharmacists work in hospital pharmacies or wards, usually after obtaining a license from the State Pharmacy Council after obtaining a degree or diploma from D pharma colleges in Jaipur or elsewhere. Their primary functions generally include the following:
- Procuring, storing, compounding, dispensing, and administering medicines as per orders from doctors or nurses
- Ensuring proper drug storage and disposal
- Maintaining drug information systems
- Participate in quality improvement programs.
Regulatory Pharmacy
This branch of pharmacy deals with the laws and regulations governing the pharmaceutical industry in India. Regulatory pharmacists work in government agencies or regulatory bodies, such as the:
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
- Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Generally involved in framing policies and guidelines for drug approval, registration, licensing, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and import/export, regulatory pharmacists also inspect and audit pharmaceutical facilities and products for compliance with mandated standards. A career in regulatory pharmacy requires a postgraduate degree or diploma after completing a pharma course from B pharma colleges in Jaipur or anywhere else in India.
Conclusion
Pharmacy as a profession is not just limited to selling drugs to customers in your locality, as you might have understood by now. While becoming a pharmacist in a local shop might be a very profitable career in India, there are a lot more opportunities in this burgeoning industry that you can get by specialising in a particular area of pharmacy from Arya College.
The good news is that one can even specialise in some branches of pharmacy with just a diploma, and even those specialisations offer fantastic career opportunities. Of course, there are various levels of qualifications that you can pursue at pharmacy colleges in Rajasthan or anywhere else in India. Depending on your choice, you can have a career in a wide range of areas related to the pharmaceutical industry, such as clinical pharmacy, regulatory pharmacy, community pharmacy, etc.
So what are you waiting for? Sign up for a pharmacy course of your choice today at pharmacy colleges in Jaipur or any other city in India.
FAQs
1. Which entrance exams are used for B Pharma admission?
National and state-level entrance exams like NEET, UPSEE, MHT CET, BITSAT, etc are used to get admission to B pharma courses.
2. Which M Pharma specialisations are available at Arya College?
Arya College offers its M Pharma course with two specialisations that you can choose from – Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics.
3. Which companies hire graduates of Pharma courses in India?
Some of the top recruiters of Pharma graduates in India are Zydus, Sun Pharmaceutics, Cipla, Cadila Pharmaceutical Limited, Abbot, Ranabxy, Pfizer, etc.
4. Are pharmacy courses cheap?
While they are not exactly cheap per se, most pharmacy courses in India are comparatively cheaper than medical courses like MBBS.
