Dr.Swarnlata Saraf

Over the years, the pharmaceutical education has taken strides, catalyzing the boom in the pharma profession. The faster rate of global population growth, urbanization has tremendously increased the incidence of diseases creating the need or demand of revolutionary changes in the pharmaceutical world.

Pharmacy has undergone facelift from mere dictionary word meaning a dispensary where medical goods are sold to a full fledged profession concerned with the art and science of preparing suitable and convenient materials for distribution and use, utilizing natural and synthetic sources in the treatment and prevention of disease. Pharmacy is a knowledge system which renders a health services by concerning itself with understanding drugs and their effects. The realization and recognition of pharmacy profession in India came late, but because of increased awareness amongst the Indian population that the health and healthcare is not the job of practicing physician only. Since then pharmaceutical profession has gone into prominence.

In the ancient past, Indians worked meticulously to examine and classify the herbs. At that time pharmacy profession was not having any organized and self contained course in India as in other parts of the world. Ayurveda- “ancient science of life” is believed to be prevalent for last 5000 years in India. It is an evidence of scrupulous efforts of the Indians in the field of medicine. The rich heritage of the knowledge of pharmacy in the ancient period was eclipsed in the medieval period by the sheer negligence of people about medicines and drugs.

But, the present scenario of pharmaceutical education is totally different from the past. Today, various provisions have been considered in colleges to give proper training, knowledge, examination for producing a skilled and responsible pharmacist. In India community pharmacy is being ignored but is actually the system of the most advanced societies. The need is to give equal importance to all aspects of science and society. The rate at which the academic institutions have grown in the last two decades is a serious matter of concern. It needs to be seen if we want to provide the right type of infrastructure and knowledge or imparting a paper qualification. It is important that we really make our academic institution a real adobe of learning.

Similar to pharmaceutical education Indian pharma market has also undergione radical structural change which is driven by sophisticated technology especially the genetic sciences, biotechnology, nanotechnology and informatics. This can be inferred by the growth of pharmaceutical market to nearly 165% which grew from USD 153 billion in 1989 to USD 337 billion in 1999 to USD 406 billion in 2002.

Ten years projections suggest that the market for biopharmaceuticals will be more than triple in real terms. Controlling the entire chains of drug discovery from ideas to R & D to regulatory clearances to distribution, on a global arena the pharmaceutical industry has grown into the world’s most lucrative and one of the top 3 largest industries. Out of this India pharma market  ranks 12 ^th worldwide with 300 firms in organized sector and around 15000 firms in the small scale sector. Moreover, over 70% of all biopharmaceuticals worldwide are of plant and animal origin indicating the intensity of opportunity that small biopharma can tap in india’s plant resources. The present global market for herbal products and medicines amounts to USD 62 billion and this is expected to increase nearly five fold to USD 310 billions by 2010. Strategic alliances and joint ventures are today the necessities for survival of the pharma industry both of small and big type. India is strategically well poised to reap the rewards of outsourced biopharma manufacturing as it has more than 70 FDA approved plants and 200 manufacture facilities certified as good manufacturing compliant making India the only country in world with so many FDA approved or GMP compliant facilities.

Opportunities

In a perspective vision pharmacy education programme in India needs qualified professional to meet the global challenges and societal requirements of our nation. It is only through the efforts of young pharmacists that will give a shining morning and bright future of tomorrow’s pharmacy profession. The various career opportunities available for pharmacy professionals are immense.

Pharma industry -

Drugs and pharma industry is a knowledge-based industry having multi billion-dollar business. In the rapidly changing global scenario and the implementation of GATT & TRIPS in India the pharmaceutical industry and professionals will play a vital role in shaping up our national economy. This new decade bound to have an ever growing demand of pharmacy professionals not only in the country, but even worldwide. The pharma industry is one of the sunrise industries of India with enormous scope for the growth. Some important facts of pharma industry in India are as follows:

§India accounts for 10% of world's production of pharmaceuticals by volume and ranks fourth in the world.

§Indian pharma industry is currently at US$ 4 billion - some conservative estimates expect the industry to grow to about 17-20 billion by 2010.

§India is among top three generic drug producers worldwide.

§India has the largest number of US FDA approved plants outside of USA.

§Domestic market in India is growing at the rate of 8 to 10% per annum.

§India has 300 large, 6000 small and medium units in the pharma sector.

Hospital pharmacist-

This is a key position and the Pharmacist plays an important role for preparing prescription to the patient’s medial history after the Medical doctor has diagnosed the disease. The Pharmacist is the best-informed qualified drug expert whose advice is sought by every body regarding the dosage, incompatibilities and side effects of drugs.

Community pharmacist -

This concept is rapidly catching up the Healthcare service in our country. Through the services of community pharmacy a Pharmacist becomes a vital link between the patients and the products i.e., drugs. The pharmacist also serves a vital link between the patients and other healthcare professionals, especially the medical experts.

§Counseling the patients regarding the use of the drugs and dosage forms

§Providing up-to-date information on drugs/dosage forms to the patients, as well as, medical staff.

§Maintaining patient records & history

§Involved in the usage of self-diagnostic kits by the patients for disorders like diabetes, hypertension etc.

§Providing supply of Home care dosage forms.

Quality assurance health manager-

A pharmacy graduate can play an important role in the devopment of clinical care plans can investigate adverse medication events and in some cases can suggest preventive measures.

Medical transcription -

A pharmacist can work with medical practionor to maintain the patient treatment history.

Production & Manufacturing-

A pharmacy professional can work as a production person (chemist, officer, executive, manager, vice-president), involved in the production of bulk drug & intermediates or formulations and dosage forms. Industries in the cosmetics, soaps, toiletries segment also hire pharmacy professionals. Other segments where opportunities exist are the field of dental products. These involve products dedicated to dental care and hygiene like toothpaste, mouthwashes, dental cavity fillers, etc. Blood and plasma products are another area hitherto untapped in India, but have immense potential worldwide and are coming up fast in the country. The products involve, blood of various groups, production of blood bags, haemoglobin, plasma, serum, clotting factors, antigens, antibodies, etc. Production of biological & biotechnological products, surgical dressings, medical devices & equipment, ayurvedic/ homoeopathic /unani medicines also involve the presence of pharmacy professionals in its production. Other areas where pharmacy professionals are required are in production of veterinary medicine, perfumery, fragrances, nutraceuticals.

Research & Development-

Research and development section forms the heart of any industry as it is the key to growth and sustenance. Highly qualified (P.G & PhDs) professionals are in great demand in the various areas of Pharmaceutical R&D such as:

§New Drug Discovery Research (NDDR): Discovering a new drug has assumed prime importance in the post-GATT era.

§Process Development (P&D): One of the important areas in bulk drugs industry is developing viable processes for the manufacture of drugs and intermediates for their commercial production.

§Formulation & Development (F&D): The success of any pharma company lies in the quality of its products, i.e., its formulations & dosage forms.

Clinical research-

A clinical pharmacist/clinical research associate plays an important role of monitering and overseeing the conducts of clinical trials, which are conducted on healthy human volunteers they have to see that the trials meet the international guidelines and the national regulatory requirements. Bioequivalence studies and Toxicological Studies are some of the areas of clinical research which are in high demand as they are involved in the systematic evaluation of potential drug substances prior to getting them approved by the authorities. Such type of research work were governed by industries and private agencies

Analysis and Testing-

Any drug or dosage form for human use has to be of excellent quality and purity, free from any impurities. The permissible limits of impurities, which either occurs through the manufacturing process, equipment, raw materials, handling or storage, are very stringent. Therefore, Quality control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) are the most integral areas of the drug & pharmaceutical industry. Highly specialized and trained staff is required to handle sensitive analytical procedures & sophisticated equipment. M. Pharm & PhDs in Pharm Analysis /Q.A. are highly preferred for this job in industries and laboratories.

Marketing-

Any business is incomplete without the marketing & sales aspect, as the universal fact is that any thing produced has to be sold. The Pharma Sales & Marketing is a highly technical field & offers excellent opportunities for the pharmacy graduates. Additional qualification like M.B.A. adds to their arsenal. An aspirant of a highly bright future can enter through various openings like starting his own retail or wholesale drug store or becoming a professional sales representative (known as medical Sales Representative or M.R.) to the levels of International Marketing & Exports. The monetary rewards and perks are the best.

Academics-

Excellent opportunities for the professionals are available in teaching profession also. As per the A.I.C.T.E. norms the minimum entry-level qualification as lecturer is M.Pharm. This is a profession associated with job satisfaction and social status as teaching is considered to be noble profession with satisfactory emoluments. Besides teaching, academic related opportunities involve positions on Research Posts and Training programs.

Regulatory Affairs-

Locally the F.D.A. (Foods & Drugs Control Administration) is the main regulatory body governing and implementing the rules and regulations for the Drug & Pharma industry. The F.D.A. has state branches and sub-branches all over the country. The job opportunities for Pharmacy graduates are excellent and range from the levels of a Drug Inspector (D.I.), Sr. D.I., Deputy Drug Controller, Asst. Drug Controller, Drug Controller and finally D.C.I. (Drug Controller of India). This is highly respected and sought after profession. A graduate in Pharmacy is the minimum eligibility.

With globalization process reaching out to India, the geographical barriers have become obsolete. Any country will have to compete and trade globally in order to progress and survive in the years to come. The major drugs and pharma companies have realized this fact and have stepped into the global area of competitive trade. If an Indian manufacturer wants to sell his drug or formulation to a foreign country it is mandatory that he has to fulfill all the statutory requirements laid by the regulatory authorities of that country. Also, his product needs to be perfectly as per the specifications laid down by the concerned regulatory authority. Thus, in order to enter into trade with the foreign countries it is mandatory to get the necessary approvals and sanctions as per the formats given by local regulatory authorities. E.g. Approvals to be obtained from U.S.F.D.A. for U.S.A, T.G.A. for Australia & NewZeeland, M.C.A and M.C.M. for U.K. & European countries and ICH guidelines going to be uniform for international levels. This branch has assumed tremendous significance and is bound to grow enormously, in the Post-GATT era. Many big players in the drugs and pharma field has already established separate Regulatory Affairs Departments in their companies. Regulatory experts are thus in great demand. Since, the field is highly technical Pharmacy professionals again fit in these positions. Similarly, Patents and Trademarks, I.P.R. Experts are also in high demand as far as the pharma industry is concerned.

Documentation, Library Information Services and Pharma Journalism-

The Regulatory Affairs as well as, Patenting Processes and Issues involve a lot of documentation work to be done and submitted to the concerned Regulatory Authorities, in a highly specialized and technical manner. Pharmacy professionals are again 1fitting in the bill. Most of the major Indian Pharma companies have established separate Documentation Departments with a highly technical & skilled staff for this purpose. The R & D and Q.C. Departments of the Pharma Companies need a wealth of Technical information, which needs to be updated regularly, in order to match the pace of global competition. Therefore, a Library Information service is another field in much demand as far as the Pharma industry is concerned. Furthermore, with the advent and boom of the Information Technology, Bio-Informatics and Electronic Data Retrieval Systems scaling new heights more options are now available for pharma professionals. Pharma-Journalism is an area filled with great potentialities. This requires specialist technical personnel like pharmacy graduates on the editorial staff to cover the various aspects example drug & dosage form information, new molecules & clinical studies, information to the population. There is already a very lucrative business in this field.

Consultancy -

This is an ideal opportunity for highly technical and experienced pharmacy professionals to earn handsomely as self-employed entrepreneurs, even after the age of retirement. Consultancy services in Pharmacy are offered in various fields against very attractive financial fees viz. regulatory affairs, documentation , approvals, manufacturing processes, analytical series, research, market surveys & sales promotion ,information retrieval , data management ,turn key projects, etc.

Opportunities Abroad-

Golden opportunities galore for qualified Pharmacy professionals in various courtiers including the U.S.A., Canada, European Countries like U.K., France, Germany, African Countries like S. Africa, Nigeria, Yemen, Gulf Countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, South East Asian Countries like Singapore, Korea, Japan, etc. and the Australian Continent including N.Zealand. There are plenty of higher education and research opportunities e.g. bioactive drugs in the developed western countries along with excellent job openings. The pharmaceutical career is one of the highest rewarding careers in these countries. The monetary job benefits abroad are highly exciting, job profiles in African Countries like, and Nigeria, Yemen & Gulf Countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait mainly as pharmacists in drug stores and hospitals.

Contrary to popular perception, pharma profession is not only challenging but lucrative as well. No longer in a D. Pharm /B. Pharm qualification looked at as a “fall back’ option for MBBS rejects, instead one can witness a breed of young, ambitious minds that wishes to reach newer heights in the field of pharmaceuticals. When faced with future opportunities, pharmacists will definitely choose the option of proactive involvement in the health and health care needs of people.

About Authors

Amber Vyas, Manju Rawat, S. Saraf and Swarnlata Saraf*

Institute of Pharmacy, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur (C. G.) - 492010

Dr.(Mrs.)Swarnlata Saraf has nearly 14 years of research and teaching experience. She is a leading scientist and well-known in the field of herbal cosmetics. Mrs. Saraf did her doctoral research at the Dept. of Pharmacy, Dr. H. S. Gour University, SAGAR. She has over 40 publications to her credit published in international and national journals. She is an active member of IPA, APTI and ISTE. Her research interest extends from Herbal Cosmetics to transdermal drug delivery (especially Iontophoresis), New Drug Delivery Systems for biological and therapeutic agents. She has Co-authored 1 book on cosmeceuticals. Presently, She is working as a Reader at Institute of Pharmacy Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, (C.G.) INDIA.

* For correspondence

Dr. (Mrs.)Swarnlata Saraf , Reader, Institute of Pharmacy , Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur (C. G.) - 492010

e-mail- swarnlata_saraf@rediffmail. com

Prof.S.Saraf has nearly 17 years of research and teaching experience at both U.G. and P.G. levels. He is a leading scientist and well-known academician . Prof. Saraf did his doctoral research at the Dept. of Pharmacy, Dr. H. S. Gour University, SAGAR. under the supervision of Prof. V. K. Dixit, a renowned Pharmacognosist. He has over 50 research publications to his credit published in international and national journals. He has delivered invited lectures and chaired many sessions in several National Conferences and Symposia in India. His research interest extends from Herbal Cosmetics to Herbal drug standardization Modern analytical techniques, New Drug Delivery Systems with biotechnology bias. He has authored 1 books. Presently, he is Professor and Director Institute of pharmacy and Dean, Faculty of Technology, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur , (C.G.).

Ms.Manju Rawat has 3 years of research and teaching experience. She has been a bright student through out. Ms Rawat did her M.Pharm from Dept. of Pharmacy, Dr. H. S. Gour University, SAGAR. She has about a dozen research publications to her credit published in international and national journals. She is a recipient of Chattisgarh young scientist award of the year 2005. Her research interest extends from Protein delivery to novel Drug Delivery. Presently, she is working as a Lecturer in Institute of pharmacy, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, (C.G.).

Mr. Amber Vyas has 2 years of research and teaching experience. Mr. Vyas did his M.Pharm from Dept. of Pharmacy, K.L.E.S educational society, Belgaum. He has about a dozen research publications to his credit published in international and national journals. His research interest includes magnetic microspheres to Novel Drug Delivery. Presently, he is working as a Lecturer in Institute of pharmacy, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University , Raipur , (C.G.).