Banned drugs that freely available in the Indian market

Do India Really Need a Pharmacy Graduate

Every year lakhs of aspirants give entrance exams for MBBS, very few get the chances to pursue Medical studies and some give other paramedical exams like B. Pharmacy, BPT, BOT etc. and find quite easy to crack these paramedical exams. They get the seat in some prestigious colleges and Finally feel better than doing B. Sc (a common graduation) because they are going for a 4 year specialized course approved by AICTE. Some of the rest opt for Diploma course in paramedical field like Diploma in Pharmacy.

                All and sundry feels happy from Parents to Relatives because their job is done now; they feel satisfied by the sacrifices done by them for the child. The student  feels that his future is now somewhat secure, He just have to pass the 8 Semesters and he will be eligible for the some good posts in Multinational Pharmaceutical Company and will earn respectfully a sum of at least 20K per Month.

                But the state of affairs Changes drastically like before and after of a 7 rectors scale earthquake.  Now teachers start saying from 1^st year that graduation alone is not sufficient, you have to pursue a degree in masters also for a good job prospect. As a Bachelor there is placement only as a M.R., All of a sudden the dream comes true turns into a nightmare,  you have to crack one more competitive exam for the masters and you later in 2^nd year comes to know that there are only 2-3 good branches in few selected colleges of India which are fruitful. Till 2^nd  year you have to make your mind up where to go? 

·         Masters in pharmacy? Also Ph.D. further if possible? 

·         Study overseas through GRE/IELTS/TOEFL (Leave Country)?

·         Become M.R. (Medical Representative)?

·         Open a medical store (Diploma holders in Pharmacy are already there for that and you think what is B pharmacy meant for)?

·         Join Pharmacy Industry in Production and manufacturing department?

·         Leave the Field (go for Masters in Business administration or other govt. services like a common graduate)?

Last option seems easiest but very hard to grasp because after a rigorous and continuous studies of tough pharmacy subjects it is very tough to crack these highly competitive exams for a Pharmacy Graduate where you have to compete with India’s top brains. But students opt for this because nothing is impossible.

Too much of confusion regarding the selection of the right direction lead to the disappointment among the students. This uncertainty prevails through entire 3^rd year and in some students even in 4^th year. Some with prosperous background or good financial position with some discussions with teachers and NRIs take the decision to study abroad. Most of the Girls (almost 80%) pursue M. Pharm just to pass the time of another 2 years and having a master degree, as by doing so chance of finding a good groom enhances. Although this mindset is discovered only in 80% of girls. 20% are still there to become lecturer or join a job in industry.

              

Some of the pharmacy students prefer to become an M.R. just because it is lucrative than joining production and manufacturing because having 2 year of experience is better than a master degree which is not as prolific as it seems. Some whose mind and body cannot afford the physical stress of Field marketing go for production in Industry for a minuscule sum of money.

So the following question arises:-

·         What the sum the industry is paying to Pharmacy Graduates?

·         Why B Pharm students prefer becoming M.R. rather than pursuing Master Degree in Pharmacy or Joining Production in Industry?

·         Why the Industry paying B pharm graduate much Less than an M.R. ?

The sum industry is paying to pharmacy graduates is less than or equal to a labor’s wage. It seems quite ridiculous and shows the ignorance of the Drug Control Department.  After discussing with thousands of employees it is came to notice that they are paying Rs. 4000-8000 to fresher B pharm based on the reputation of the company and for M. Pharm Rs. 2000 extra. And after giving their precious 4-5 years to the Industry even now employees are not gaining adequate money for their services. This is it, Go there, Live on rent, eat outside, buy clothes and hoard money if you can. While as a M.R. you can earn Rs. 18,000-20,000 easily even as a fresher. But the truth is that first, no one studies so hard to become an M.R., Only Situations make them chose this way.  Second, who wants to turn into a M.R. with high academics performance and who wants to drive bike whole day in extreme weather conditions of summer, winter and Monsoon? In short, M.R. is not the job specified for the Pharmacy graduates.

B pharm graduates are less paid in production unit because B. Sc. Graduates are ready to work in a reduced amount of salary. The Industry is hiring them against the rules of Factories and Production department. Thus because they are available for a low salary why would industry pay more to a pharma graduate? They are pure businessman, they will employ what comes in less sum. For earning more profit, they unlawfully recruiting Non-Pharmacy graduates and Pharmacy Graduates dying for money.  This is happening in India that’s why most of the students leave the country to make the most of their graduation, hard work and knowledge they gain during B Pharmacy.

From last 2-3 year it has become a trend that colleges of pharmacy have started shutting down due to fewer admissions and some in the process of closing. Professors, Lecturers are going or having the fear of unemployment again. Even prestigious colleges have an impact of this. According to them,  the quality of students dropping every year. Much Lesser number of students opts for these courses compared to earlier times because people are now cognizant about these left high and dry courses. No Placements, no Salary, Why one should opt for?

Now the question arises why B Pharmacy If India can “adjust “with other courses? That is called a” JUGAD”. Pharma Industry in running on Jugaad and it is under the influence of all the responsible people who are controlling the Drug control department and Pharmaceutical council of India because they somehow getting benefit from it or involved in it or running their own Pharma Industry.

I have met a guy in Delhi working as a medical representative who had left a small  Industry in Baddi because they were not giving him joining letter for the job for 6 months and giving salary as cash in hand further not giving salary slips. What can you expect worst than that?  

If industry gets profited by common B Sc. Graduate and Every Common graduate is eligible for Medical Representative and Diploma in pharmacy is enough for opening a medical store or become a pharmacist.  The Question is

“Do India really need a Phamacy Graduate?”

The Situations is very dismal now and going worse from year to year.  Even PhD holders are not getting reasonable jobs; instead they are running their coaching classes. M. Pharm holders are either getting inferior salary, jobless or doing PhD just for the hope of getting good job after that. If all these good knowledgeable persons suffering from the system what can you expect from a Graduate in Pharmacy?

(The opinion is personal and based on the pragmatic knowledge of the Pharmacy field)