Pharmacy Education in India

The Onset of Pharmacy

Indian pharmacy education was established by the Portuguese in 1842, but it was not until 1937 that Varanasi's Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh, introduced degree programs in pharmacy. Getting a Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharm) is the requirement in India for practicing as a pharmacist, which is rewarded after two years and three months of completion of the program. The profession of pharmacy is dominated by diploma-trained pharmacists. Additionally, various universities and colleges in India offered higher degrees, such as the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), the Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm) and the Ph.D. In 2008, the number of private institutions offering a practice-based Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree program surged.

Ancient knowledge and traditions in India date back thousands of years. For treating various diseases, traditional healers used to extract medicine from a variety of sources including animal, vegetable, and mineral sources. It was common for traditional medicines to be prepared empirically by a few experienced people and the traditional knowledge of that system typically remained within the family. Despite this, there were no scientific methods for standardizing the drugs. As the British traders became the rulers, they introduced the western or allopathic system to India. State patronage was given to this system during the British Empire. By the end of the 19th century, it had become popular among the people. 

Career as a Pharmacist

A career in pharmacy can be divided into three sections. 

1) Practice Setting - included Community, Hospital, Clinical

2) Industry - Production, Quality Assurance, R&D, Quality Control, Packaging, Regulatory, Sales & Marketing

3) Other Settings - Academics, Clinical Research, Regulatory, Teaching, Research. 

By this, one can easily assume that Pharmacy is a very versatile, increasingly diverse profession and holds endless opportunities for young professionals. However, in the eye of the public, the importance of pharmacist and their contribution to the field of medicine is not given its due recognition. In the present scenario owing to the pandemic, the world has realized the power of the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmacists finally have been being recognized for their contribution to the health of the nation. 

The pharmacist can help with queries about health issues, missed doses, what affects the medication from foods, drinks, drugs, or activities. Fundamentally speaking, their expertise lies in medicine. 

Learning Areas in Pharmacy

Depending on the course selected, pharmaceutical education generally involves theory classes, practical classes, examinations, industrial or hospital training. The Department of Pharmacy at the Arunachal University of Studies, Namsai, has introduced Pharmacy courses with the objective of providing the best pharmacy education in the Northeast region of India by developing efficient and confident pharmacy professionals by imparting professional knowledge while giving them the appropriate practical hands-on experience of the field. This is also done by maintaining the pharmaceutical education at par with other leading institutes providing similar education in the field, up-to-date research in order to provide technical standards and workforce in the area of pharmacy, and, also to promote research and development activities, social harmony and peace in the health care system in North-east India. 

Arunachal University of Studies has become one of the best B Pharma College in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India.