Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D) is a post graduate course in the field of Pharmacywas established in the year of 2022. This field mainly concerns with providing better patient health care and to bestow pharmacy services. It is a course of 6 years duration(five years of study and one year of internship or residency). Pharm. D course will cover a syllabus including health care and biochemical science. It is a patient-oriented specialization that includes hospital, clinical pharmacy services.The programme covers practical experiments along with theory classes. The candidate with a degree in Pharmacy has a great career ahead. They are assured of good salary packages also. They can also go for their higher studies including Master's degree in Pharmacy, Master of Business Administration etc.
The duration of the course shall be six academic years (five years of study and one year of internship or residency) full time with each academic year spread over a period of not less than 200 working days. The period of six years duration is divided into two phases: Phase I – consisting of first, Second, Third, fourth and the fifth academic year. Phase II – consisting of internship or residency training during the sixth year involving posting in specialty units. It is a phase of training wherein a student is exposed to actual pharmacy practice or clinical pharmacy services and acquires skill under supervision so that he or she may become capable of functioning independently.
Candidates should have passed the Higher Secondary Examinations (10+2) of the Government of Kerala or any other course treated as equivalent thereto with English as one of the Subject and Physics, Chemistry as compulsory subjects and Biology/ Maths/ Biotechnology or Computer Science as optional subjects. Candidates should have obtained a minimum of 50 % marks for the optional subjects and 50 % marks aggregate for all the 3 subjects put together.
After completing Pharm.D programme, the aspirants can go for a Higher Education or opt for a job in the related field. Candidates can decide the option based on their interest. The best higher education options offering better career opportunities are Ph. D.& MBA. If the candidate prefers to opt for a job, the best choice will be Teaching, Jobs in Pharmaceutical Industries/Clinical Research Organizations/Biotech companies, Marketing jobs, Clinical Pharmacist in hospitals, Retail/Wholesale Pharmacy business etc.
The pharmacy sector offers lots of opportunities to the students after the completion of the course. The students can work asPharmacists orin Pharmaceutical companies or Clinical Research Organizations. There is huge number of opportunities available for the students in both Government and the private sector inside and outside India.