Pharm.D in India: What is known and What is unknown ?

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) in India has created a huge hike on young pharmacists, expecting the future is much better than the other branches of pharmacy. Pharm.D's syllabus is we framed with lot of debates and observations from the developed world to provide a competent clinical pharmacist for the better health care in India. See the syllabus the other health care professionals were excited to see the practicality of this course in their work place. But, theoretically Pharm.D has made a huge impact on the developed nations and developing nations to adopt the India Pharm.D syllabus a standard one to practice in their own countries. To the same, the Indian Pharm.D has many pitfalls in practicality, which is hard to answer the route cause. For instance, a competent clinical pharmacist needed more practical training which need much focus on patient care by training them in the wards and engaging them in all the activities that can make them to learn how to implement the clinical pharmacy and collaborative work with other health professionals. Due to lack of competitive faculties the scope of bed-side teaching was negligible. Its fact, when Pharm.D students enter into the wards, they see the nursing staff training their nurses, Doctors training their medicos but Pharm.D students were relaying on the medical doctors to provide some support as the faculties never likely to participate in the bed-side teaching and working with the health professionals in the wards.

Increasing number of colleges increased the demand of Pharm.D admission, but there is none to answer the practicality of their roles and jobs. Disparities in training and unsuccessful competencies with poor health care acceptance kept the Pharm.D's into dilemma. Furthermore, it also made a lot of confusion among the student minds and unable to fulfill their dreams. For instance, course such as  Pharmacoepidemiology and clinical research were elaborative in syllabus, but faculties unable to engage them in any activities such visiting clinical research sites, engaging them in some pharmacovigilance activities. Furthermore, the organizations well focusing on conferences for showoff and unnecessary hikes over the Pharm.D without know the practical barriers faced by the students. For instance, there are many pharmacy organizations inviting the international delegates to participate in the national and international conferences, but unable to engage the Indian Pharm.D's to get trained in overseas.

Now the number of Pharm.D's increasing and coming out with any vision. This is because of lack of planning and support from the Pharmacy board. This situation is especially burning in southern states where the number of colleges are more than that of other parts of India. All colleges promising to give admission but unable to secure them in jobs. The student associations such as "IPSF", and "IPA-SF" etc., are focusing on conferences and international fame rather to supporting the local Pharm.D students. The silence answers from the pharmacy leaders increasing the tensions in the student mind. There is much more needed to work at ground level, focusing on providing standard practical training rather basic theoretical knowledge, providing a scope and hope on the Pharm.D's for securing the jobs is crucial.

In conclusion, Pharm.D's are currently in great frustration and needed support from all phases for the future of clinical pharmacy in India. Further, clinical pharmacy is a practice of patient care through pharmaceutical care. If the theoretical knowledge can fulfill the dream then we are in world of delusion.
by
Dr.Akshaya Srikanth, Pharm.D
Pharm.D India