Career Options In Pharmacy: All You Should Know About

The field of pharmacy can mark its genesis to the Mesopotamian civilization period where the world’s oldest known prescriptions were recorded on a clay tablet. However, the origins of pharmacy or the history of pharmacists as a means of curing human ailments and relieving physical suffering are as old as mankind itself. In the early 17th century, Western society established its inaugural pharmacist guild, marking a pivotal moment in the formalization of the profession. Apothecaries associated with these guilds assumed a central role as healthcare providers, contributing significantly to the practice and advancement of pharmacy. In 1852, the father of pharmacy, William Procter Jr. formally established the American Pharmacists Association.

Before diving into the origins of pharmacy or pharmacy as a career, let's understand what a pharmacy is.

Pharmacy is the science and art of the preparation and standardization of drugs. Pharmacists are involved in cultivating medicinal plants, synthesizing valuable compounds, and analyzing medicinal agents. They prepare drug dosage forms like tablets and capsules and compound prescriptions for physicians, dentists, and veterinarians.

The development of the pharmaceutical industry after World War II led to the discovery and use of new and effective drug substances. It also changed the role of pharmacists.

In India, pharmacy gained considerable speed and recognition after the Father of Indian Pharmacy, Prof Mahadeva Lal Schroff, formalized the development of pharmacy education in India.

The scope for pharmacy as a career is ever-growing and highly lucrative. Here are a few reasons why pharmacy as a career in India and abroad are the right pick for a secure future.

• A Fusion of Science and Math: The fusion of science and math along with a medicine-oriented curriculum make it a prestigious part of the medical world and an integral part of governmental medical agencies.
• Flexible Career: Pharmacy offers diverse areas of specialization such as community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, research and academia. A career in pharmacy also allows you to work in varied locations as a pharmacist, a consultant or an entrepreneur.
• Networking With Patients: The scope for pharmacy easily allows you to interact with patients and work on their problems within a community and on a personal level. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t just a desk job but one that gives plenty of scope for research and communication.
• High level of job security: Pharmacy as a career is currently at its high point due to excessive pollution, food adulteration and climate change. The post COVID era has increased its demand even more as the healthcare industry consistently requires pharmaceutical services. People need medications, and pharmacists play a crucial role in ensuring safe and effective drug use in such a fast-changing world and technological advancements.
• You can join professional organizations: With telepharmacy on the rise, an increase in regulatory compliances, telepharmacy and flexible work opportunities, more and more medical and science students are opting for careers in pharmacy.

• Pharmacist: A pharmacist is a healthcare professional who is trained and licensed to prepare, dispense, and provide information about medications. Pharmacists play a crucial role in the healthcare system by ensuring the safe and effective use of medications.
• Drug Inspector: A career in pharmacy lets you become a drug inspector, also known as a pharmaceutical inspector, is a professional responsible for ensuring that pharmaceutical products comply with regulatory standards, safety protocols, and quality requirements.
• Drug therapist: The scope for pharmacy also covers this career option. This professional specializes in helping individuals overcome substance abuse issues. They provide counselling, support, and treatment planning to assist clients in achieving and maintaining recovery.
• Clinical researcher: A clinical researcher is a professional involved in the planning, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials and studies aimed at advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care. These individuals work in various sectors, including academia, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations (CROs), and healthcare institutions.
• Chemical Technician: A chemical technician is a professional who works in laboratories and industrial settings, supporting chemists and other scientists in various research, development, and production activities. This is a highly preferred career in pharmacy.
• Clinical pharmacist: A clinical pharmacist is a highly trained healthcare professional who specializes in providing direct patient care within the clinical setting, working collaboratively with other healthcare providers to optimize medication therapy. Unlike traditional pharmacists who primarily focus on dispensing medications, clinical pharmacists take on more patient-centered roles, actively participating in the decision-making process related to drug therapy. A lot of students who wish to work more closely with doctors and in hospitals go for this pharma career in India.
• Drug Store Manager: This pharma career in India and abroad helps you explore your entrepreneurial and business capabilities and combines them with your expertise in pharmacy and medicine.
• Pathological lab Scientist: A pathological laboratory scientist, often referred to as a clinical laboratory scientist or medical laboratory scientist, is a healthcare professional who plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. These scientists work in clinical laboratories, analyzing patient samples to provide essential information to physicians for accurate diagnosis and effective patient care.
• Pharmacologist: A pharmacologist is a scientist who specialises in the study of drugs, their effects on biological systems, and the mechanisms by which drugs exert their actions. This field encompasses a wide range of research areas, including drug development, drug interactions, pharmacokinetics (how drugs move through the body), pharmacodynamics (how drugs affect the body), and the identification of potential therapeutic targets.