PROSPECTIVES AFTER BPHARM

RIGHT MEDICINE: The pharmaceutical industry will require highly qualified professionals. Several higher study options are available for meritorious pharmacy graduates. Those who have qualified in GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) or the IIM-CAT (Common Admission Test of the Indian Institutes of Management) can go for M.Pharm. or MBA programmes. Those with top scores in CAT can join postgraduate programmes in management conducted by leading business schools such as the IIMs.
The two-year M.Pharm. course provides several specialisation options: pharmaceutics; pharmaceutical chemistry; pharmacology; pharamacognosy; industrial pharmacy; pharmacy practice; pharma marketing and management; pharmaceutical analysis; quality assurance; clinical pharmacy; pharmaceutical biotechnology; bulk drugs; and so on.
NIPER courses The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, Mohali - 160 062, Punjab ( www.niper.nic.in ), offers excellent higher study facilities for meritorious pharmacy graduates. Specialised subjects available here for M.S. (Pharm.) programmes are medical chemistry, natural products, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmacology and toxicology, pharmaceutics, biotechnology and pharmacoinformatics.
NIPER’s other programmes include M.Pharm. in pharmaceutical technology (formulations) and pharmacy practice; M.Tech. (Pharm) in pharmaceutical technology (bulk drugs); and MBA (Pharm) in pharmaceutical management.
Pharmacy graduates with 60 per cent marks are eligible to apply for these programmes. Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students require only 55 per cent marks and physically challenged students 50 per cent marks. Applicants should qualify in GATE/NET. Admission is based on a national-level entrance test, group discussion and personal interview. NIPER offers doctoral programmes for meritorious master’s degree holders. For details, visit the website.
In Kerala, the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, provides study facilities for M.Pharm. in pharmaceutical analysis; pharmacognosy and phytochemistry; pharmaceutics; pharmacology; pharmacy practice; and pharmaceutical chemistry. There are 26 seats. Those who have passed B.Pharm. with 50 per cent marks in all four years of the course taken together are eligible for admission. Selection is through the M.Pharm. entrance examinations conducted by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations. The annual tuition fee is Rs. 16,000. For details, visit www.cee-kerala.org
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheruvandoor, under the School of Medical Education, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, offers a self-financing M.Pharm. course. The number of seats is five. Entry qualification is B.Pharm. with not less than 60 per cent marks during all four years of the course. SC/ST students will get relaxation in marks.
A merit list will be prepared on the basis of B.Pharm. marks and valid GATE scores with equal weightage. Graduates without the score will be considered if GATE-qualified applicants are not there. Details can be had from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cheruvandoor, Ettumannoor- 686 631, Kottayam.
The College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka - 576 119, under Manipal University, offers M.Pharm. in pharmaceutics; pharmaceutical chemistry; pharmacognosy; pharmacology; pharmaceutical marketing; pharmacy administration; pharmacy practice; pharmaceutical quality assurance; and pharmaceutical biotechnology. Entry qualification is B.Pharm. with 55 per cent aggregate marks.
The Goa College of Pharmacy, Panaji, conducts M.Pharm. in quality assurance and pharmacology. Those who possess B.Pharm. with 55 per cent marks and GATE scores are eligible for admission.
Some other colleges offering M.Pharm. courses are:
• Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bangalore - 560 027
• Sri Rama Krishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore - 641 044.
• University Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608 002.
• Sri Rama Chandra Medical College and Research Institute (Deemed University), Porur, Chennai - 600 116.
• Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi - 835 215.
• Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagpur University, Nagpur – 440 010.
MBA MBA Pharma is an industry-specific course designed to groom pharmaceutical management professionals. Since pharmaceuticals is one of the high growth industries, it requires trained professional pharmaceutical management manpower. The demand for such professionals is on the rise.
MBA Pharma is one of the best higher study options for pharmacy graduates. NIPER is a prominent centre providing full-fledged facilities for higher education in pharmaceuticals, including management research. NIPER conducts a two-year MBA course in pharmaceutical management.
The number of seats is 29 and the entry qualification is B.Pharm., B.Tech. or B.E. in chemical engineering; or M.Sc. in chemical or life sciences with 60 percent marks.
SC/ST students require only 55 percent marks and physically challenged 50 per cent. Admission will be based on the combined performance of the student in the written test, group discussion and interview ( www.niper.nic.in).Meritorious pharmacy graduates can consider the MBA pharmaceutical management course conducted by the School of Business Management under NMIM University, Mumbai - 400 056. The School of Pharmacy and Technology Management under this university conducts an M.Pharm. course in pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacology. B.Pharm. degree holders with 60 per cent marks and valid GATE scores can apply ( www.nmims.edu).
MBA biotechnology is a suitable higher study option for pharmacy graduates. The Department of Management Sciences of the University of Pune offers this programme. Selection is based on ATMA test score, group discussion and personal interview. For details, visit www.dms.unipune.ernet.in
M.Tech. Other higher study options are the M.Tech. level programmes in biotechnology and bioinformatics. Choose your options according to your aptitude and interest.
Job prospects India is fast becoming a leading player in the global pharmaceutical sector. So plenty of opportunities will be in the offing and good students will be able to find jobs in the country and abroad. M.Pharm. and Ph.D. holders are in great demand in various areas of pharmaceutical research and development. Quality control and quality assurance are important to the drug and pharmaceutical industry where highly qualified pharmacy professionals are required.
Those with M.Pharm. degrees and Ph.D.s in pharmaceutical analysis or quality assurance are preferred for these jobs.
Pharma marketing offers excellent opportunities for smart pharmacy graduates and MBA (Pharma) degree holders. M.Tech. degree holders will also do well.
Pharmacy graduates can work as medical sales representatives. Hospitals, medicals shops and pharma companies provide job opportunities for qualified candidates. Those with M.Pharm. degrees and Ph.D.s can opt for a teaching career. Jobs such as those of drug inspectors and drug controller are also there.
Drug and pharmaceutical companies employ graduates and postgraduates and doctorate holders in pharmacy as management trainees.
The Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow; National Chemical Laboratory, Pune; Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad; and so on provide job opportunities to those having research degrees.