PHARMA LITERATI

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...

The newly passed out Doctoral Pharmacy (Pharm D) gradutates in Tamil Nadu will get multiple opportunities in pharma and allied health sectors as the state pharmacy council (TNPC) is continuing its discussion with the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) to consider and recommend Pharm D graduates for specialized posts in industry and in government sector. The pharmacy council is an autonomous body with lot of limitations of work. Apart from registration and renewal of certificates, the council is supposed to facilitate and support pharmacy education and updating the syllabus. But as a special case of interest, TNPC will take the issues of Pharm D holders with IPA which is the ideal organisation to discuss and analyse their issues. All possible attempts will be made by the state council for the welfare of the Pharm D graduates and other registered pharmacists, according to J Jayaseelan, president of TNPC. He said the government of Tamil Nadu does have good vision about t...