Diploma in Pharmacy or D.Pharma. is a 2-year full-time diploma course divided into 4 semesters. The course has been designed to prepare candidates to work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist in hospitals, community pharmacies, and other pharmaceutical related fields.
Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who practice in the field of pharmacy. They are knowledgeable about drug therapy, different types of drugs (their composition, manufacturing process and properties) and optimum use of drugs (depending upon the condition of the patient). Pharmacists are also known by titles such as- druggists, chemists and Doctor of Pharmacy. Their main tasks include- compounding, checking prescriptions, dispensing drugs, advice dosage and directions to patients and checking and maintaining the drug store inventory (at hospitals, clinics or drug stores).
Preparing medication for dispensing and compounding pharmaceuticals, Preparing aseptic products, performing inventory control, purchasing, merchandising, and record-keeping as required under such acts as the Food and Drug Act. D.Pharma Syllabus is designed in such a way that it includes both practical and theory subjects. the course prepares students to assist in narcotics control, third-party billing, drug distribution, pre-packing pharmaceuticals, computer processing, and clerical and other duties as necessary.
Tabulated below are some of the major highlights of the course:
| Course Level | Diploma |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Examination Type | Semester System |
| Eligibility | 10+2 |
| Admission Process | GPAT, UPSEE, JEE Pharmacy, AU AIMEE, CPMT, PMET |
| Top recruiting organizations | Mankind, Cipla, Sun pharmaceuticals industry ltd, INTAS biopharmaceuticals |
| Top recruiting areas | Health centres, pharmaceuticals firms, chemist shops, research agencies, hospitals |
| Top job profiles | Pharmacist, Scientific officer, Quality analyst, production executive, Medical transcriptionist |
| Course Fee | INR 9,000 to 2 lakhs |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 1 to 10 lakhs |
Listed below are the minimum criteria which candidates interested in pursuing the course are required to fulfil, in order to be eligible to apply for the course:
Most institutes offering the D.Pharmacy course admit students based on performance in a relevant entrance test, often followed by a round of personal interview, wherein their general aptitude for the course is tested. Admission process generally varies across colleges.
A few institutes also provide direct admission based on the candidate’s performance at the 10+2 level.
Some of such entrance tests conducted in India are:A year - wise breakup of the course’s syllabus is given below:
| Year I | Year II |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutics I | Pharmaceutics II |
| Pharmaceutical chemistry I | Pharmaceutical chemistry II |
| Pharmacognosy | Pharmacology toxicology |
| Biochemistry clinical pathology | Pharmaceutical jurisprudence |
| Human anatomy physiology | Drug store business management |
| Health education community pharmacy | Hospital clinical pharmacy |
