Pharm D: A new concept in India.

Sir,

Many physicians, pharmacists, students and their parents have a lot of questions in their mind about this curriculum. Here we have tried to get the maximum answers.

In 2008, the first batch of Pharm D took admission to the course. Pharm D is short form of “Doctor of Pharmacy.” It is the professional pharmacy doctoral program. In India, it is a total six years program after 10+2 or D. Pharm which includes five years of academic study and one year of internship.[1] It is slightly different than M. Pharm (Pharmacy Practice) [Table 1].[12]

Table 1

Difference between M. Pharm (Pharmacy practice) and Pharm D (post baccalaureate)[1,2]

The academic study includes the same subjects such as B. Pharm, in addition the pharmacy practice components are emphasized such as Hospital Pharmacy, Community Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapeutics, Clinical Pharmacy, Biostatistics and Research Methodology, Clinical Toxicology, Clinical Research, Pharmacoepidemiology, Pharmacoeconomics, Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacotherapeutic Drug Monitoring. Further to add, in the fifth year of the course the candidate has to perform a project work for six months. Pharm D (post baccalaureate) is a three-year course which includes two years of academics and one year internship after B.Pharm.[12]

Some unique features of Pharm D include- eligibility to register for Ph.D., prefix ‘Dr.’ to name and a registrable qualification after completion of course.[2]

The pharmacists can provide the clinical pharmacy services as shown in Table 2. Out of the services patient medication counseling is considered to be the most important part from a patient's point of view. The information that may be discussed while a counseling session purpose, expected action, storage, method of administration of drugs and medical devices.[4] Overall skills required to provide better clinical pharmacy services are up-to-date knowledge of clinical aspects of drugs and good communication skills.

Table 2

Role of clinical pharmacists (Pharm D) candidates in hospital[3,4]

After completion and during the course Pharm D candidate may provide the clinical pharmacy services in the hospital,[34] work in the areas Clinical research organizations (CRO), Pharmacovigilance, Pharmaco-economics, community services,[5] research and academics.

As we know it is a newly launched curriculum in India, it will take time to get it well established. Pharm D candidates need to work hard and get recognized in the society for patient-care by clinical pharmacy services. They have to create a rapport with other healthcare providers such as physicians, nurses, and also with patients. Pharm D candidates have to generate the need of clinical pharmacy services in the society and prove its importance.

As the Pharm D is mostly patient-centered curriculum, therefore, patients will be benefited the most. The patients would be able to know all the information about their disease, drugs and lifestyle modifications for the disease in future which would definitely increase prognosis of the patients. The clinical pharmacy services would also minimize the work-load of physicians from their busy schedule as well as it would decrease the load on the Indian health-care system.

As a summary, it can be expected that the Pharmacists, i.e., Pharm D would play a major role in Indian health care system in future. This course will give an opportunity to pharmacists to work more prominently in Indian health care system.