A pharmacist should be exposed to such aspects in the academics that he can be in any one of the following professional categories of jobs:
a. Chemist and druggist engaged in selling of medicines.
b. Manager and administrator of pharmaceuticals services working for various regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical systems.
c. Academicians (teachers of pharmacy)
d. Specialist in research and development i.e., research of new drug molecules, biotechnological investigations etc.
e. Community and hospital pharmacists with specialized knowledge in drug usage, side effects, contra indications, incompatibilities, storage conditions of drugs, dosage regimen etc.
f. Occupational specialist (industrial pharmacist engaged in pharmaceutical technology) i.e., manufacture of various dosage forms, analysis and quality control, clinical trials, post marketing surveillance, patent applications, drug registrations.
Special emphasis should be given while designing the pharmacy curriculum to include the general aspects of communication skills, which go a long way in helping the pharmacy graduates to face the job world with confidence. Some of the attributes that a pharmacist needs to develop are: analytical capabilities, decision making including problem solving, graphical, computer skills, management skills, aptitude for life long learning, ability to master knowledge from inter-disciplinary subjects and integrative skills.
The pharmacy curriculum should be designed to give more emphasis to patient care. More topics of relevance should be included in the subjects of anatomy & physiology, biochemistry, clinical pharmacology, clinical data analysis, pathophysiology, drug information, interactions and social pharmacy.
Sufficient changes should be brought in the healthcare system of the country. Each state should create a separate pharmaceutical directorate, which can appoint a graduate pharmacist at each primary health centre and government hospital.
The present pharmacy curriculum has produced half a million qualified pharmacists but not many are trained professionals.
There should be constructive linkage between academia, pharmacy practitioners and community in generating useable information based on the rapid technological and professional changes taking place in the society.
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