A Complete Guide to Build a Career in Pharma Industry

Pharma is a growing sector in India as the pharmaceutical sector caters to 50% of the global demand for different vaccines. In addition, India addresses 40% of the generic demand in the US and 25% of medicine demand in the UK. Indian Economic Survey 2021 also highlights that the domestic pharma sector will grow three times in the next decade. Today, the domestic pharmaceutical market stands at $42 billion and is set to reach $120-130 billion by 2030.

As envisaged by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, in ‘Pharma Vision 2020’, India is set to become a central hub for end-to-end drug discovery. Taking this objective forward, an additional outlay of Rs 197,000 crore has been outlined for the pharmacy sector for the next five years by the Government of India. This makes the pharmacy sector an in-demand career field.

What is the scope of the Pharma Industry?

The road ahead in the Pharma sector is full of opportunities, and as the industry flourishes, students who wish to pursue a fruitful career in Pharma will reap rich benefits. The Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals will likely establish a Central Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology and new research clusters in the coming years. These will focus on innovations in the Pharma sector. 

The Pharma industry is likely to expand in India because the cost of medicine production in India is around 33% less than in the US. Labor costs are also cheaper, and thus, India has emerged as a global hub in the Pharma sector when it comes to production, innovation, research, and supply. 

Students can benefit from this boom in employment opportunities after completing degrees like B.Pharmacy and M.Pharmacy. They get plum jobs in hospitals, industry, and research labs. A vista of opportunities has also come up in the pharmaceutical industry, where BPharmacy students find gainful employment in processes like formulation and manufacture of drugs. 

Which courses will ensure success in the Pharma industry? 

Among the leading institutions that offer different professional courses in Pharmacy, the name of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh, finds a special mention. 

This college of Pharmacy is ranked 36th among the top pharmacy colleges in the country. It prepares students to deal with emerging challenges in the field of Pharmacy. 

Students can choose from a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral courses in Pharmacy. Here is the list of courses available at Shoolini.

B. Pharmacy 

This program emphasizes investigation, drug discovery, and aspects like pharmacological action, chemical structure, formulation, biochemistry, etc. 

For admission to B. Pharmacy (a four-year course) here, students should be 10+2 (PCB/PCM) and have a minimum of 60% marks. In addition, they should be NEET/JEE /SAT qualified. 

B. Pharma LEET

This is also a professional program of similar nature and students who have pursued a diploma after Class 12th and now wish to take up a professional career in this field can opt for B. Pharma LEET. 

Students who wish to enroll in this 3-year course should have a diploma in Pharmacy with 60% marks. 

M. Pharma- Pharmaceutical Chemistry

This is an innovative specialization in Shoolini University at the School of Pharmacy. Designing new drug molecules based on different drug designing approaches is focused on during this course. Admission to this course is through faculty interaction. Students who have completed BPharma from institutions recognized by the Pharmacy Council are eligible for the same.

M. Pharma (Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology) 

M.Pharma in research areas like Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy, and Pharmacology is also available at Shoolini University. For admission to these 2-year courses, students should have completed BPharmacy with 55% marks from an institution recognized by the Pharmacy Council of India. 

Key research areas covered in these programs include Pharmacology & Toxicology, Photochemistry, Biogenesis, etc. 

Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Sciences

This degree program at Shoolini University has been designed to prepare competent professionals in the field of Pharmacy who can make innovative discoveries and create pathways that lead to new inventions and innovations in the Pharma sector. Those with a Master's degree in Pharmacy/Science and 55% marks are eligible for admission to PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences. NET/SET/GATE qualified candidates are exempted from the entrance examination. 

Job opportunities available in Pharma 

A career in Pharma is promising and has bright career prospects for those with a passion for improving the overall health and wellbeing of society. Some of the leading job opportunities that B.Pharma and M.Pharma students can take up are:

• Pharmaceutical Sales Manager
• Regulatory Specialists
• Clinical Data Managers
• Pharmaceutical Research Scientists
• Toxicologists
• Pharmacists
• Production Chemists
• Formulation Development Scientists
• Quality Assurance Leads
• Production Officers

How Pharma is a Rewarding Career? 

Pharma is a rewarding career. It helps budding professionals from the pharma sector work in an ecosystem that promotes scientific research and innovation. 

Pharmacy as a career offers work flexibility, job satisfaction, stability, and the opportunity to serve humankind.

As per World Health Organisation, Pharmacy is a growing sector with a global market of $300 billion USD per year and is likely to rise to $400 billion USD in the coming three years. 

Benefits of pursuing Pharmacy from Shoolini University

The school of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Shoolini University is the only pharmacy school in Himachal Pradesh with a NIRF ranking. It follows innovative teaching practices and methodologies. Students have access to modern facilities like UPLC, HPTLC, GCMS and HPLC where they get ample practical training opportunities.

The university has alliances with many national and international institutions that facilitate student/faculty exchange and research. The globally acclaimed faculty here is trained at Oxford and the National Cancer Institute, which adds value to professional degrees pursued at Shoolini University.

Conclusion

Pharmacy is an integral part of the healthcare industry in India and has been contributing to drug research and development. With India emerging as a leading hub in the field of research and innovation in pharmaceutical sciences, this is the right time to pursue a career in Pharma and contribute to the country's development.