Pharm D or “Doctor of Pharmacy.”
It is the professional pharmacy doctoral program.
In India, it is a total six years program after 10 2 or D. Pharm which includes five years of academic study and one year of internship.
The academic study includes the same subjects such as B. Pharm, in addition the pharmacy practice components are emphasized such as
Hospital Pharmacy, Community Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapeutics, Clinical Pharmacy, Biostatistics and Research Methodology, Clinical Toxicology, Clinical Research, Pharmacoepidemiology, Pharmacoeconomics, Clinical Pharmacokinetics Pharmacotherapeutic Drug Monitoring.
In the fifth year of the course the candidate has to perform a project work for six months.
Some unique features of Pharm D includes- eligibility to register for Ph.D., prefix ‘Dr.’ to name and a registrable qualification after completion of course.
The Pharm D graduate can provide the clinical pharmacy services. Out of the services patient medication counselling is considered to be the most important part from a patient's point of view. The information that may be discussed while a counselling session purpose, expected action, storage, method of administration of drugs and medical devices. Overall skills required to provide better clinical pharmacy services are up-to-date knowledge of clinical aspects of drugs and good communication skills.
After completion and during the course Pharm D, the candidate may provide the clinical pharmacy services in the hospital, work in the areas Clinical research organizations (CRO), Pharmacovigilance, Pharma co- economics, community services, research and academics.
As we know it is a newly launched curriculum in India, it will take time to get well established. Pharm D candidates need to work hard and get recognized in the society for patient-care by enhancing clinical pharmacy services. They have to create a rapport with other healthcare providers such as physicians, nurses, and also with patients. Pharm D candidates have to generate the need of clinical pharmacy services in the society and prove its significance.
As the Pharm D is mostly patient-centric curriculum, enabling the patients to be benefitting the most. The patients are enlightened about their disease, drugs and lifestyle and modifications for the disease in future which would definitely increase prognosis of the patients. The clinical pharmacy services would also minimize the work-load of physicians from their busy schedule resulting decrease the load on the Indian health-care system.
In a Nutshell, it can be expected that the Pharmacists, i.e., Pharm D would play a major role in Indian health care system in future. This course will give an opportunity to pharmacists to work more prominently in Indian health care system.