Qualified pharmacy candidates can eye employment opportunities in diverse areas of the sector spanning from engineering projects on the one hand to research, regulatory affairs, Intellectual Property Rights, quality management on the other, said Uma Nandan Misra, dean, Pharmacy Training Institute (PTI), Bengaluru.

While the industry provides promising growth prospects to candidates, there are also specialised career opportunities in pharmacy in the areas of nuclear medicine, nutrition support, oncology, psychiatry, forensic sciences, poison control, pharmacotherapy, geriatric-paediatric, he added.

Such niche area of training enables the candidate to be specialised, easily employable and take on the challenges of the industry confidently, Misra told Pharmabiz.

It is the academia which needs to be bridged with the industry to ensure a smooth transition from the college to the corporate world. This would provide a steady pool of qualified and trained graduates who are ready for a professional career. Only this would proactively meet the expectations of industry. It would inculcate confidence to assume increased responsibilities, he noted.

For instance, in the case of Pharmacy Training Institute, it is a platform for skill enhancement and achieve faster chances of getting placed in the pharma industry. For instance, over 560 students from 32 batches have been placed in both in India and abroad. The syllabus for training has been revamped to suit the current requirements covering from production of API (active pharmaceutical ingredients), formulations, to regulatory affairs or end-to-end supply chain, sales, human resources and finance.

The demand for total continuous quality management systems, has led the need to add on application of microbiology in pharmaceutical testing, calibration of instruments, packing material analysis, drug recalls. It is also mandated to have a practical experience in an approved Drug Testing Laboratory to comprehend the nuances of analysis.

Pharma industry is increasingly focusing on scientific marketing skills. Here along with business etiquette, plug & play ability, communication & presentation skills, team work and people management aptitude, the candidates needs to thorough on the product sales backed by an understanding of medical science, he said.

The government’s Digital India and Start-up India also opens up self employment possibilities. The sector is not just known for early stage companies and entrepreneurs engaged in research, manufacture, pharmacy retail and drug testing. But the best way to hone one’s skills in entrepreneurship would be to work in a pharma company, said Misra.

In addition, India and particularly Bengaluru is known for its capability in information technology, therefore candidates can look for a software product for patients, doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, etc. Going by the shortfall of industry-ready candidates and coaching centres, there are options to start a training academy or a consultancy firm, he said.