Pharmaceutical Jobs in India

Pharmaceutical companies in India are growing at a phenomenal pace unmatched by any other industry. The pharmaceutical industry in India is reckoned as the third largest in the world and poised to occupy the top slot in the foreseeable future. With such incredibly profound growth of pharmaceutical companies in India, the obvious result is a proliferation of pharmaceutical jobs.

Jobs in the pharmaceutical industry range from those in sales and marketing to high-end specialist R&D jobs. But for building a meaning career in the pharmaceutical industry, a B.Pharm degree is crucial. A four-year Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy (BPharm) leads to promising job openings in drug manufacturing industries and food and drug control organizations. Educational qualification to become eligible to join B. Pharm course is 10+2 (PCM/B). These courses are offered by a number of universities, colleges and several other recognized institutions. Some of the better known training institutes are Indian Institute of Medical Representative (IIMR), Delhi, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management, Mumbai and National Institute of Pharmaceutical and Research (NIPER), Punjab.

Depending on the extent of one’s qualification and the area of specialization (pharmacology, pharmaceutics, hospital pharmacy or quality assurance) study, one can look for an appropriate job. Teaching is another option if an aspirant holds Masters Degree in Pharmacy (M.Pharm). Pharmacy graduates are also appointed by the state governments as drug inspectors and drug analysts.

The B.Pharma program is a passport for building a promising career in the healthcare sector. This course is a combination of biomedical, pharmaceutical science and clinical expertise in the use of drugs. The eligibility criteria for B.Pharma in most of medical colleges is good marks in 12th standard with science subjects i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology as the main subjects in the Std XII examinations.

While a diploma-holder can work as a pharmacist in hospitals or as a pharmacy technician, BPharm or MPharm degree-holders can also apply for jobs drug manufacturing companies in the pharmaceutical industry. Depending on one’s aptitude, one can get into sales, production, quality control, research etc. Apart from the drug manufacturing industry, pharmacists are also employed in the chemical and food industries.

Pharmaceutical companies broadly fall into three categories – the Multi-national Corporation (MNC) and frontline Indian companies, middle-rung companies with an annual turnover of Rs 40-Rs 50 crores, and local companies with regional bases.

A few of the well-known pharmaceutical companies in India are Ranbaxy, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Cipla, Sun Pharma Industries, Lupin Labs, Aurobindo Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline, Cadila Healthcare, Wockhardt Limited, Nicholas Piramal, Pfizer, Aventis Pharma, Ipca Laboratories etc. Besides, there are a host of mid-size and small size pharmaceutical companies in India. It is therefore very unlikely that a B.Pharm graduate will remain unemployed post qualification.

Many pharmacy graduates find jobs with pharmaceutical companies, where they can get involved in manufacturing or research and development. Other pharmacy graduates work in marketing and sales, promoting their companies' products with doctors, hospitals, and allied health professionals. Others obtain employment with government bodies and public healthcare services.

Pharmaceutical companies generally advertise in newspapers for filling vacancies. Several companies also provide recruitment details on their websites. Some companies also notify job vacancies online through recruitment agencies.

Pharmacy is a relatively high-paying professional field. As per latest survey, the average salary of pharmacy graduates were between Rs 150000 to Rs 250000 per annum. The earnings will steadily go up as the employee gathers experience and grows in his/her career.

Pharmacy graduates who have a flair for journalism can also find lucrative employment with publishers who bring out health magazines, medical books, e-journals and creation of literature for drug promotion to doctors and laboratories, documentation of medical records, medical data management etc. Other employment opportunities include marketing of medical devices, diagnostic equipments etc to doctors, nursing homes and hospitals. Those with doctoral and post-doctoral qualifications in pharmacy can find challenging avenues in research laboratories and educational institutions and the income can be fabulous.