Indian Pharmacy Graduates Association (IPGA)'s AP Branch is striving to improve career opportunities of pharmacy graduates in the pharma industry. Though there is lot of hype that pharmacy graduates have abundant opportunities, in reality the opportunities had been limited, says Dharma Data, president, IPGA-AP Branch.

A government order is expected soon that will facilitate B Pharm graduates to be placed in large numbers in the bulk drugs industry. There are also efforts from the Central Government to see that only pharmacy graduates are appointed as manufacturing chemists in future.

The Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) and the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) have already given approval for the change, it is learnt. IPGA believes, with a dearth of pharmacy graduates decades ago, qualifications other than pharmacy were also included for different functionaries like manufacturing chemists, drugs inspector, licensing authority, controlling authority etc.

This is the age of specialization and hence the qualification of licensing authority and controlling authority should be amended and graduation in medicine should be omitted from the rules.

IPGA-AP Branch today as 400 life members and 25 associate members. It has been conducting a series workshops and seminars to update the knowledge of pharmacy graduates to meet industry expectations. It has launched GATE training that enables pharmacy graduates to get admissions in M Pharm and will be eligible for nation wide scholarships. Two batches of pharmacy graduates have already undergone training, he informed.

The AP Branch is also trying to establish drug information centres in the State. It will in future train pharmacy graduates on various parameters such as IPR and key regulations. It will also facilitate scholarships and financial aids to poor pharmacy graduates and also will foster academic-industry relationships.