PharmD Course in India - Attn. r. Srisailam

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Dear Dr. K. Srisailam:

Thanks for returning back to netrum with more feedback. In my earlier reply to your previous post (reproduced below) I had drawn your kind attention towards the career tip published in India Today on Oct. 31, 2008 that had estimated an initial salary of Rs. 2.5 lakh per month for PharmD pass-outs. To what extent do you think this estimate is based on rational optimism. In case this course can really fetch this much or anywhere around that sum, then it is quite justified to pay a fee of Rs. 1 - 2 lakhs per annum for such a course. But of course, govt. sector cannot afford to pay so much to the fresh candidates, question is will private corporate hospitals pay this much in the beginning itself. Further this salary can be dreamt of in case the PharmD candidates choose to work abroad, but how much can be expected within India, we need to know. Please throw some light

on that.

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

Dear Dr. K 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)

From: Dr. Keshetti Srisailam <ksrisailam@...>netrum Sent: Saturday, 6 December, 2008 11:33:45 AMSubject: Re: Re: PharmD Course in India

Dear friendsI agree with the comments on high fee structure pointed out by Dr. Anupama and Dr. SantoshThe PCI permitted the colleges with an intake of 30 only keeping in mind to maintain quality education. This prompted the State Councils to prescribe such high fee for Pharm D programmeThe Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education prescribed a fee of Rs. 86,000 per yearIn B. Pharm there will be 60 intake and each student has to pay a fee of Rs. 30,000 in the state of Andhra PradeshAs most of the fee collected goes to the salaries of the teachers and administration expenditure, i feel there is nothing wrong to prescribe such a high fee for Pharm D. Moreover the pay offers expected to be high after completion of Pharm D.I agree with Dr. Anupama's message to start Pharm D in government colleges so that everybody will be benefited. I am happy to inform that University College

of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kakatiya University, Warangal already sent the proposals to the University to start Pharm D programme from next academic year.Dr. Srisailam>> Dear Shazia Jamshed:> Thanks for the compliments and your enriching remarks about the topic of current discussion. You have hit the nail right upon its head by stating

that time has come when the pharmacist should change his role from a mere dispenser to a caregiver and decision maker. That is precisely the reason why the initiative taken by PCI is appreciated by one and all. Somewhere the beginning has to be made. So far pharmacists in India have not been able to carve out a niche in so far has their direct involvement in healthcare delivery is concerned. Many experts blaim the faulty education and training that has so far been more industry oriented and less inclined towards pharmacy practice. Even mandatory training at the end of the B.Pharm. course was being imparted in an industrial set up rather than a hospital setting. Under these circumstances a dire need was perceived for a fully clinical oriented course that could exhaustively train the aspiring students in> patient healtcare delivery and hence PharmD Course. The remedial

measures suggested by you to bring the existing dilapidated system back on track are quite laudable and significant. I fully endorse the same. Besides there is need for regular exposure of PharmD students to clinical setting right from their very first year rather than during final year of their course. PharmD candidates should be constantly exposed to the interface that they are ultimately going to serve from the very beginning of their course. I have seen a few letters from your university published in American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education on this very issue. Can you kindly throw some light over the assertions made in those communications and the situation existing in and around the place of your study vis-a-vis pharmacy practice.> 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: shazia jamshed <shazia_12@. ..>> netrumgroups (DOT) com> Sent: Friday, 5 December, 2008 7:37:35 AM> Subject: Re: Re: PharmD Course in India - Prospects & Constraints> > > > > Dear Dr Ishaq, > > Congrats for taking up this issue of Pharm D course in India-Prospects and Constraints. > > This morning I read the enlightened postings which energize me to write something on this issue. >

> As we all know pharmacists being the health information custodian and the third largest group of health care providers seep into the changing dynamics of healthcare environment where now patient is both demanding and receptive for information even on minor illnesses. To be precise the profession of pharmacy embraces a novel concept of ‘Pharmaceutical Care’ thus changing the image of a pharmacist from a dispenser to a decision maker and caregiver. Still a lot of work is needed to be done to establish the true status of this underrated healthcare group in the eyes of other stakeholder; be it a doctor, nurse or a patient. > A panegyric attempt to provide due recognition to pharmacists as well as to ascend their numbers pharmacy education has taken strides with more number of pharmacy institutes in the recent years. > India will be a role model to follow for developing countries in

terms of Pharmacy Education. > As per Gazette of India, Part III, Section 4, dated 10th May 2008the Health Ministry has paved the way for Indian pharmacy practice training and education by giving formal approval for Pharm D. regulations. The Pharm D course comprises of six academic years with five years of study and one year of internship and residency in speciality units with six months in General Medicine Department and two-months each in other speciality departments. The clerkship coupled with a research project covering areas of biostatistics and research methodology as well as concepts of pharmacoeconomics and clinical research is also in place. Still the fruitful implementation of any such program in Indianeeds coherence of many factorsbut for developing countries to follow the same track is not a bitter pill to swallow. > > To produce a worldly competitive Pharm D

graduate, Pharmacy Education System in will exercise following remedial measures both in curriculum, its implementation as well as pharmacy practice > * Incorporation of courses of Pharmacoepidemiolog y, Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy with Clinical Pharmacy as a separate entity > * Formation of an Internal Quality Assurance Committee (IQAC) within each pharmacy institute ensuring the delivery of laid down components of the curriculum> * “Training of the Trainers†by interactive, hands-on workshop with the help of international faculties to generate excellence in novel and innovative aspects of curriculum> > > Thanks and Regards > Shazia Jamshed > > > > > Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger. / invite/>

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