Change is the only thing which is constant in life and pharmacy profession in India is also changing on various fronts. Pharmacy education must identify these changes and formulate a system to develop competent pharmacist to serve the pharmacy profession.
Emerging trends in pharmacy profession in India are: generic manufacturing of world class standards with automization; pharmaceutical care at every stage; health care through insurance and drug development and importance of Pharmacovigilance.
Generic manufacturing of world class standards with automization
Indian pharma industry is No. 3 in the world and we are exporting the API, medicines, and vaccines to almost 150 countries with a CAGR of 21per cent. More than 584 plants sites are registered by the USFDA, more than 950 by MHRA, TGA for approvals and almost 1105 by WHO GMP. This suggests that India is producing quality medicines at economic cost. After USA, India has the maximum number of pharma companies manufacturing generics and exporting to world with 72 per cent of market share. In terms of revenues, generic drugs form the largest segment of the Indian pharmaceutical sector. About Rs 60,000 crores is the export in 2013-2014. Approximately 70 per cent of the patients in developing countries receive Indian medicines. New trends observed in cGMP standards emphasizing quality assurance at every stage and computer validation assures the quality of world standard.
Pharmaceutical care at every stage
Pharmacy profession is a service to humanity and unless and until pharmacist take care of medicines and patients through proper professional service the end result of wellness may not be achieved. We have noted trend of giving this service from community and hospital pharmacist by creating awareness, doing patient counseling, making patient records and starting drug information centres. At present it may be five per cent but in future it will go up to 25 per cent, a major change in trend by giving professional service in pharmacy profession.
Health care through insurance
Day- by- day cost of health care is increasing and hospitalization is adding tremendous burden on patients. To accept this challenge, taking health insurance is the right option and cost of medical treatment will be paid by the insurance company. While paying hospital bills,insurance companies giving importance to pharmacoeconomics and pharmacist with his core knowledge will be the asset to decide the case regarding payment. This trend and change in insurance policies and role of pharmacists have created many job opportunities and careers.
Drug development and importance of Pharmacovigilance
After accepting the Product Patent, Indian pharma giants started their R and D for the development of new molecules in cancer, diabetes, cardiac problems and need many scientists and pharmacists to work in basic research. Highly skilled manpower is required in this area from healthcare profession. Pharmacovigilance and data management through information technology is going to be a major trend with lot of career and Job opportunities. Identifying such trend,we have to change and adapt ourselves to match the need of pharma profession. The Government of India plans to set up a US$ 640 million venture capital fund to boost drug discovery and strengthen pharma infrastructure.
Trends which we should set in pharmacy education
The projected human resource requirement in the Indian pharma sector is about 21,50,000 by 2020. We need the young generation pharmacists with latest knowledge, skill, passion for hard work and a positive attitude. Pharmacy education should be skill - oriented and with more emphasis on practical approach.
Changes required in pharmacy education
- Skill- oriented syllabus by identifying various skills on different fronts.
- Problem -based learning with documentation.
- Industry training for minimum six month and industry experts participation in academics.
- Training institute for young teachers to develop soft skills and teaching skills.
- More Pharm-D programmes for pharmaceutical care.
So these challenges can be accepted and trend can be set in pharmacy education to make it skill -oriented.
In life 'O' is an important letter. It denotes creation of opportunities and after creating opportunities through knowledge, skill, attitude and hard work give outstanding performance. This trend will match the need of pharma profession and the objective of National Skill Development Council to make India a Pharma Super Power in 2020.
(The author is President, Association of
Pharmaceutical Teachers of India)