PharmD Course in India - Kind Attn: Dr. K. Srisailam

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Dear Dr. Keshetti Srisailam:

We are honoured to have a knowledgeable and aware professional like you in this discussion. You have highlighted some highly pertinent and significant concerns as expressed by aspiring students across India about the course. A student who is prepared to shed Rs. 1 - 2 lac per annum would definitely be looking for a handsome remuneration and immediate suitable placement at a relevant position as soon as he completes his course after six long years of hard labour and dedication. A couple of months back I was utterly surprised to see the job prospects of PharmD course in a reputed national magazine namely "India Today" that promises an initial salary of Rs. 2.5 lakhs per month to PharmD candidates in India. Listed under Hot New Options of October 31, 2008 issue of this magazine, its correspondent Kanika Tandon had shown the cost of course

as Rs. 7.2 lakh at malai and Manipal Universities. Full report is reproduced below for the interest and interaction of all readers. Do you really think that this is a reasonably just offer. Is the magazing propagating a right message or simply fooling the gullible. I need to be enlightened whether any corporate hospitals in India will really offer that package to a fairly good number of candidates soon after completion of their PharmD course. Regarding your other concerns I wish to state that yes, PharmD is considered equivalent to M.Pharm. considering its total duration of 6 years (same as M.Pharm.), however PharmD candidates shall definitely not be welcome in the Pharmaceutical Industry in view of the course being totally patient and hospital oriented. PharmD candidates have to bank upon hospital jobs more than any other job. Their primary function is to act as an interface between a patient and the doctor.

Please do return back with your feedback.

DOCTORATE IN PHARMACY (PHARMA D.)Qualification: 10+2Duration: Six yearsCost of course: Rs 7.2 lakhStarting salary: Rs 2.5 lakh per monthInstitutes: malai University, (www.annamalaiuniversity.ac.in);Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University (www.manipal.edu)

India is a leading manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, but being a simple graduate in pharmacy will not equip you fully for the industry-ready professional which this competitive field demands. The unique doctoral course in pharmacy is offered by several institutes including Vishweshwara Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bangalore, Manipal University and malai University. It aims to create highly knowledgeable pharma candidates who will competently assist doctors in monitoring the patients, finding out how to reduce the cost of therapy and reporting adverse effects of drugs. Says Sureshwar Pandey, professor and head, department of pharmacy practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, “The course widens your knowledge base and the three-year hospital-based programme helps you get first-hand knowledge of on-the-job situations.â€Looking forward to more inputs from your end.

With regards

Dr. Geer M. Ishaq

Assistant Professor

Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences

University of Kashmir

Srinagar-190006 (J & K)

Ph: 9419970971, 9906673100

Website: http://ishaqgeer.googlepages.com

From: Dr. Keshetti Srisailam <ksrisailam@...>netrum Sent: Thursday, 4 December, 2008 2:02:22 PMSubject: Re: PharmD Course in India - Prospects & Constraints

Dear Dr. Ishaq and allThank you for your initiationIt is the right time to discuss about the Pharm D CourseMany people think that the course is designed to cater the needs of aspirants who wish to become pharmacists in USAAs Dr. Ishaq rightly told, the profession of clinical pharmacy is still infant in IndiaOur college, Vaagdevi College of Pharmacy, Warangal, AP got permission to this course both six year and three year (Pharm D and Pharm D Post Baccalaureate)Many aspirants and their parents are visiting our institution to inquire about the courseThe major concerns of the parents/aspirants are1. The high fee structure. Is it worth of spending about 1 to 1.5 lakhs per year?2. Unclear prospects of the course after a long study of six years3. Is it equal to M Pharm? If not, what is the future4. Can a student, after completion of Pharm D, work in any industry, like CROs?When compared to

six year programme, the three year programme (after B Pharm) has more interesting to the B Pharm graduates. However, the candidates are first preferring M Pharm, and if they are not succeeded, then they are looking for Pharm D.Hence I feel that it is required to concentrate on these aspectsWith best wishesDr. Srisailam

Contact: Office: Dr. Srisailam Keshetti, Associate Professor, Vaagdevi College of Pharmacy, Ramnagar, Hanamkonda, Warangal - 506001, AP, INDIA, Ph. +91 870 2455111(O), Fax +91 870 2544949. Residence: Dr. Srisailam Keshetti, H.No. 5-11-531, Naimnagar, Hanamkonda, Warangal - 506009, AP, India, Ph. +91 98493 05115, +91 92468 94465 Alternate email id: ksrisailam@rediffma il.com Permanent Address: Dr. Srisailam Keshetti, H.No. 2-10-2095, Bhagya Nagar, Karimnagar - 505001, AP, India. Ph: +91 878 6504465

From: Geer M. Ishaq <ishaqgeer (DOT) co.in>Subject: PharmD Course in India - Prospects & Constraintsnetrumgroups (DOT) comDate: Thursday, 4 December, 2008, 10:36 AM

Dear Members:

I welcome you all to the new discussion, "Pharm.D. Course in India - Prospects & Constraints" . This discussion topic has actually been proposed by Prof. Vijay Thawani sir in the wake of a large number of queries related to the course proping up on various internet educational as well as non-educational fora. Moreover there has been a lot of debate eversince Pharmacy Council of India issued notification for starting this course in May this year, regarding the prospects of this course in India. Though the idea seems to have been conceived with a view to upgrade the standards of pharmacy education in our country and make pharmacy education more patient oriented, several quarters are of the view that considering the fact that clinical pharmacy is still in its infancy in India, there is hardly any scope for the new course within India. The course is of six year duration post 10+2 and of three years post

B.Pharm.

Over the next five days we will thoroughly discuss various pros and cons of the new course as also its prospects in India and abroad. We will also look into the various constraints being faced today in the practice of clinical pharmacy in India and the challenges that the new course as well as the candidates who opt for it are going to face in years to come. Effort will be to have a free and fair discussion without any inhibitions or restrictions whatsoever. By the end of the discussion it is expected that some fruitful suggestions will come up as to how this course can be made really meaningful particularly in the Indian context and how we can make best use of the professionals emerging out of this new course. I wish to make one thing clear at the outset that though PharmD means "Doctor of Pharmacy", its pass-outs shall not be having a priviledge of calling themselves as "doctors"

or that of prescribing drugs to patients since law of the land (Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, Medical Practitioners Act, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1942 etc) does not permit so. With these few words I urge upon all members of this august forum to bless us with their kind opinion about the course, its prospects, various constraints, challenges, opportunities, strengths, weaknesses and threats so that the younger generation desirous of availing the benefits of this course may get educated and their decision shall be balanced and well thought-out rather than hasty and ill-conceived.

With regards

Dr. Geer M. Ishaq

Assistant Professor

Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences

University of Kashmir

Srinagar-190006 (J & K)

Ph: 9419970971, 9906673100

Website: http://ishaqgeer. googlepages. com

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