Pursuing pharmacy can be an excellent decision, depending on your interests and aptitude. Today a career in pharmacy is extremely coveted as more and more candidates apply to programs in pharmaceutical science. The pharmaceutical industry has seen quite the boost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overnight there was a huge surge in the need for effective vaccines against the deadly virus, creating a demand for qualified and highly skilled pharmacists in the field. There are many career opportunities in pharmacy that you can pursue after gaining the right qualifications. D.Pharm and B.Pharm are popular undergraduate programs in the field that you can pursue after class 12th. Let’s take a look at what each of these programs entails:
Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm)
About the Program
This is an undergraduate program spanning across two years. Candidates pursuing this program gain a basic understanding of pharmaceutical science, skills to read prescriptions, and suggest over the counter medicines based on symptoms.
Eligibility
Candidates who have completed class 12th with minimum 45% aggregate marks can apply for this program. They should have studied Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects and Mathematics or Biology as optional subjects.
Subjects Covered
The program covers many relevant topics and subjects including Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Social Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence, and Drug Store and Business Management, to name a few.
Career Opportunities
After completing this program from one of the top pharmaceutical science colleges in Nashik, professionals can be placed as Pharmacists, Science Officers, Quality Assurance Officers, and Medical Transcriptionists to name a few profiles. They can also launch a pharmacy of their own and become entrepreneurs after completing this program.
Further Education
If candidates wish to enhance their knowledge and skills in pharmaceutical science, they can opt for a Bachelor of Pharmacy after completing D.Pharm. They can apply for direct second year lateral entry and gain an advantage over their peers in the field. Pursuing an undergraduate degree in pharmacy can go a long way in landing better paying jobs in leading pharmaceutical companies across the world.
Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm)
About the Program
This is an undergraduate degree program generally spanning across four years and eight semesters. This is a highly advanced and skill-focused program that helps candidates understand the science behind drug formulation, production, and prescription. The program also focuses on studying diseases and finding viable remedies for the same through research in pharmaceutical science.
Eligibility
Candidates who have scored minimum 45% aggregate marks in class 12th with Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects and Mathematics or Biology as optional subjects can apply for this program. Some pharmacy colleges in Nashik also hold independent entrance cum scholarship exams for admissions to their B.Pharm program.
Subjects Covered
This program covers diverse topics like Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry, Pharmaceutics I, Biochemistry, Computer Applications in Pharmacy, Environmental Sciences, Pathophysiology, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Medicinal Chemistry I, Herbal Drug Technology, and many more. Leading pharmaceutical colleges in Maharashtra have fully equipped labs where students learn practical skills to make them more employable in the job market.
Career Opportunities
Professionals holding a B.Pharm degree can be hired as Hospital Pharmacists, Food Inspector, Drug Inspector, Drug Researcher, Pharmacist, Analyst, or even a Faculty in a leading college or university. Leading pharmaceutical companies, government research labs, hospitals, and clinics hire professionals holding this degree.
Further Education
Candidates holding this degree can pursue M.Tech to gain better job and research opportunities in the field. They can also follow M.Tech with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Science to gain deeper knowledge in the area of their expertise. These are the highest level of pharmaceutical courses available today.
Conclusion
Both B.Pharm and D.Pharm have their merits. Choosing the right program depends on your career goals at the end of the day. If you wish to pursue entrepreneurship and work in your own pharmacy then a D.Pharm program is best suited for you. On the other hand, if you want to pursue research-based jobs and higher education in pharmaceutical science then a B.Pharm is the right program for you. Make sure to do some research on the colleges you shortlist and make sure that they have well-equipped labs and offer 100% placement assistance. Good luck!