Pharm D graduates staring at bleak future due to absence of proper cadre: DA Gundu Rao
In the absence of a proper cadre such as clinical pharmacist,
the Pharm D graduates seem to be staring at a bleak future. These well
qualified candidates are either underemployed or unemployed in the country due
to the absense of a separate cadre for them. This is even as the course content
is relevant but paucity of jobs are impacting their future career prospects,
said DA Gundu Rao, former president, Karnataka State Pharmacy Council.
There is lack of opportunities in the hospitals for Pharm D candidates, despite being exposed to pharmacovigilance, drug information services, therapeutic drug monitoring, medication error monitoring and medication history analysis, he added.
When the course commenced in 2008, the requirement was that pharmacy colleges offering Pharm D should be attached to a 200-bed hospital and easily accessible for students. But now we see such requirements and standards are diluted. Now doctors and nurses are trained in hospitals but a pharmacist which is the backbone of medication know-how is yet to find a place in the healthcare stream. This should change as Pharm D graduates are experts in medication, deciphering prescriptions, patient counselling and advising doctors, said Rao.
The only way would be to start a pharmacy outlet. But this business no longer is even fancied by the D Pharm candidates. It is a capital intensive business. Such ventures are seen to be unwieldy with no return on investment (ROI). A candidate armed with Pharm D is not cut out for this job as he is qualified and trained to interface with doctors and will see himself stymied in future growth prospects, said Rao.
For those who are not keen to set up pharmacy trade business but work in one outlet will now need to compete with D Pharm candidates who earn around Rs. 15,000 a month in pharmacy chain stores. This is unfortunate because after six years of Pharm D programme, the person has to earn the same salary as a diploma in pharmacy holder, he said.
Furthermore, pharmacy retail outlets are under considerable pressure as revenue generation is a challenge as profitability is dwindling. At times what it earned from sale of medicines can barely include operating expenses, let alone even have a profit margins. So, it is high time that the government takes cognisance on the future of Pharm D job openings, said Rao.
There is lack of opportunities in the hospitals for Pharm D candidates, despite being exposed to pharmacovigilance, drug information services, therapeutic drug monitoring, medication error monitoring and medication history analysis, he added.
When the course commenced in 2008, the requirement was that pharmacy colleges offering Pharm D should be attached to a 200-bed hospital and easily accessible for students. But now we see such requirements and standards are diluted. Now doctors and nurses are trained in hospitals but a pharmacist which is the backbone of medication know-how is yet to find a place in the healthcare stream. This should change as Pharm D graduates are experts in medication, deciphering prescriptions, patient counselling and advising doctors, said Rao.
The only way would be to start a pharmacy outlet. But this business no longer is even fancied by the D Pharm candidates. It is a capital intensive business. Such ventures are seen to be unwieldy with no return on investment (ROI). A candidate armed with Pharm D is not cut out for this job as he is qualified and trained to interface with doctors and will see himself stymied in future growth prospects, said Rao.
For those who are not keen to set up pharmacy trade business but work in one outlet will now need to compete with D Pharm candidates who earn around Rs. 15,000 a month in pharmacy chain stores. This is unfortunate because after six years of Pharm D programme, the person has to earn the same salary as a diploma in pharmacy holder, he said.
Furthermore, pharmacy retail outlets are under considerable pressure as revenue generation is a challenge as profitability is dwindling. At times what it earned from sale of medicines can barely include operating expenses, let alone even have a profit margins. So, it is high time that the government takes cognisance on the future of Pharm D job openings, said Rao.
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