Considering the rapidly evolving trends in the country and the prospects in near future, pharmacists should find new vistas for their career through extending their knowledge in various segments, opines pharmacy experts.

In a seminar cum discussion on 'New career and profession courses for Pharmacists in the coming decade', organised by the Indian Pharmacy Graduates Association (IPGA) in association with Empower School of Health, Delhi, professor Y K Gupta, head-Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, said that the pharmacist, being a vital link between the doctor and patient, can play an important role in pharmacovigilance in India.

Delivering his speech as Guest of Honour, he said that pharmacovigilance could be included in the curriculum of B Pharm course and structured training be provided to the pharmacy teachers, community and hospital pharmacists, thus enabling them to support the National Pharmacovigilance Programme of India.

He also pointed out that graduate pharmacist can be employed in print media as a scientific writer in the field of medical journalism. A graduate pharmacist can also have a career as professional reviewer of scientific papers, translation research and also in drug regulatory affairs as a writer and reviewer of IND document etc. He also emphasised the importance of pharmacists being involved in the nations health policy decisions at government level, said IPGA sources.

The seminar was aimed at providing information and career awareness to the graduate pharmacist in the newer fields of pharmacy profession like clinical research, clinical data management, hospital management, patient safety, pharmacovigilance, patents, drug regulatory affairs, medical writing and documentation.

Professor Roop Khar, procter, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, explained in the seminar that the man power demand for health care industry is going to be doubled in the next seven years and also there will be great demand for qualified and trained clinical pharmacist. He also presented the new careers options available for the graduate pharmacist mainly Venture Capital Banking, Management Consultancy, Bio-IT, Law, Business Developments, Corporate Communications etc.

Dr V K Singh, former director, International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), New Delhi, presented a detailed lecture on the role of hospital health care manager in optimizing the resources for the hospitals. He also suggested the audience that there is a great need for new hospitals in public and private sectors, which includes setting of hospital at rural level. He also explained that the pharmacist can be a part of a health care management team provided he is being trained for it.

Paul S Lalvani, director and dean, Empower School of Health, in his presentation, said that the fast growing clinical research industry in the country offers lucrative career opportunities to the pharmacists also. He also explained the projects undertaken by Empower School in collaboration with various institutions including University College of London and Uppsala Monitoring Center in Sweden, University of Ghana and Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.

Dr Arun Garg, general secretary with IPGA delivered the welcome speech. Atul Kumar Nasa, president, IPGA explained the scope and careers available in different fields of pharmacy profession in his introductory lecture. The vote of thanks was delivered by Vijay Bhalla, treasurer, IPGA.