PIQUE YOUR CURIOSITY: KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT M.PHARM

By Dr. Anita Ayre

Associate Professor and HoD (Department of Quality Assurance)

Vivekanand Education Society's College of Pharmacy

The Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm) degree is a two-year postgraduate program. The course is centered on pharmaceutical sciences. Students spend the first year studying specialized subjects and the second year working independently on a research project, which strengthens a student's theoretical, technical, and practical grasp of pharmacy as well as their enthusiasm for doing more pharmaceutical research.

Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who specialize in the discipline of pharmacy. They can apply their pharmaceutical expertise to the advancement of medicine and society. In the past, pharmacists were solely responsible for drug dispensing. The new era, however, has become one of research and technology. The shift from traditional botanical medicine used by local apothecaries to drug discovery and development of molecules is significant. Pharmacy specialists are getting involved in additional segments besides dispensing.

As a result, the pharmacy curriculum cannot be limited to delivery of medication and its preparation. India's pharmaceutical sector is in a promising and burgeoning period. Because of the colossal development in this business, job prospects have increased dramatically.

THE VALUE OF M. PHARM OVER B. PHARM          

A Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) degree provides students with fundamental exposure to a broad range of subject matters. In the market, their employment prospects are relatively restricted. A Master's degree provides specialized knowledge in the subject of one's choice. An individual with an M. Pharm degree would be given precedence in an interview; just as more experienced individuals are in any Indian or International company. It not only gives students preference in the field of selection owing to improved qualifications, but also makes their knowledge and project work useful. M. Pharm provides a solid foundation for a successful career. Completing the M. Pharm degree establishes trust in the individual by providing in-depth knowledge of the topic as well as applicational facets of theory.

M. PHARM SPECIALIZATION SUBJECTS

M. Pharm (Master of Pharmacy) offers specialization in subjects like:

Pharmaceutics: Research and formulation of drugs, excipients, manufacturing procedures, and development of a safe formulation. It is also called the science of dosage form design.

Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance: Quality assurance (QA) encompasses all factors that might affect the quality of prescribed pharmaceutical products.

Pharmacology: The science of drugs, comprising their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use, and toxicology.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Pharmaceutical (Medicinal) chemistry is concerned with the design (drug design) and synthesis of biologically active compounds.

Pharmacognosy: The study of medicines or crude drugs derived from natural sources such as plants, microorganisms, and animals. It consists of an analysis of their biological, chemical, biochemical, and physical properties.

Pharmaceutical Analysis: Drug, excipient, or formulation analysis in determining impurity, dissolution, content uniformity, etc.

Drug Regulatory Affairs: All the parts of the pharmaceutical development process and how they are regulated at various levels.

More subjects are offered by various universities and colleges.

GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL SCENARIO

North America is anticipated to maintain its dominant position in the global pharmaceuticals industry, increasing its market share from 2017 to 45.33% in 2023. In contrast, it is anticipated that Europe's market share would decrease from 2017 to 2023 and account for 20.24% of the worldwide pharma sector. With a market share of 24.07% in 2023, the Asia Pacific pharmaceuticals market is anticipated to maintain its second-place ranking. In 2023, it is anticipated that the pharmaceutical markets in Latin America and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) would hold respective market shares of 7.53% and 2.96%.

Globally, the scope is enormous. To expand its workforce, the sector needs additional professionals. More admissions to M. Pharm (Master of Pharmacy) have been documented in recent years, and one reason might be the government providing scholarships to promote higher studies. India lags in terms of research and the development but is super focused on development of generics and sales of products.

On the contrary, the United States and Europe place a strong emphasis on research. Due to the high cost of research, India hasn’t been able to conduct large-scale research programs. The research and development process alone might take 3-6 years. Clinical studies take 6-7 years, and regulatory review and post-approval take 2-5 years. Many years have been spent combing through hundreds of molecules investigated to have one drug approved for sale. A large quantity of money is invested, yet the outcomes are underwhelming. That is, though, how science works. Each M. Pharm (Master of Pharmacy) graduate contributes to the profession in one way or the other, whether it is through chemistry, formulation, analysis, clinical trials, regulatory work, pharmacovigilance, etc.

The most recent example of Covid-19 is where pandemic containment was achieved via collaborative effort of multidisciplinary teams. But the most important role was played by pharmacists all around the world, who worked around the clock with other specialists like biotechnologists, virologists, and others to produce a Covid-19 vaccine. It was produced effectively by professionals, and all credit goes to the cornerstone of their expertise.

Many places of the world would have stagnated if M. Pharm personnel had not existed. Given the drug resistance of human bodies, the system would fail if the medicine was not created. It is critical to continue researching in the field of healthcare to stay up with emerging viruses/organisms.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AFTER M. PHARM

India has a strong footprint in the global pharmaceutical sector. Apart from being the world's largest supplier of generic medicines, India meets more than half of the global demand for vaccinations. With countless prospects for growth and development in the pharmaceutical business, here are some intriguing career possibilities. 

They are merely a few. One may work in several areas, including manufacturing, Intellectual property Rights (IPR) & patents, medical billing, quality assurance, entrepreneurship, government sector, etc.

FUTURE OF PHARMA

The future of pharmaceuticals includes robotics, 3D drug printing, precision medicine, artificial intelligence, and other technologies. Newer sectors would emerge, and new areas would necessitate the engagement of more experts. The pharmaceutical sector is embracing the new digital era, which is brimming with innovative technology. With such developments occurring and looking ahead, more students should seek M. Pharm (Master of Pharmacy). With developing technologies and streams, M. Pharm students have a lot of opportunities in the future.