History and Evolution of the Pharmacy Profession in India
History of the Pharmacy Profession in India
Pharmacy education in India at the certificate level was started in 1842 in Goa by the Portuguese. Formal training of compounds began in 1881 in Bengal, and as a university-level program in 1937 at the Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi). In Baghdad, the first pharmacies or drug stores were established in 754.
The revolution in science and technology post-World War II triggered a change in the pharmacy profession. As pharmacy is a healthcare profession, the independent government of India enacted The Pharmacy Act in 1948 to control the profession and education.
Key Figures
- Father of Pharmacy: William Procter Jr. (American Pharmacist)
- Father of Indian Pharmacy: Mahadev Lal Schroff
Definition and Origins
Traditionally, pharmacy is known as the art and science of making drugs. The word Pharmacy is derived from the Greek word PHARMAKON, meaning drug. In ancient times, physicians practiced pharmacy; Hippocrates, the great Greek physician and father of medicine, often prepared his own prescriptions.
An Apothecary is a historical term for a medicine professional who formulated and dispensed medicine. The earliest pharmacies were known as apothecary shops. Pharmacists played a vital role in compounding medicines—such as ointments, pills, tinctures, syrups, and elixirs—based on physician prescriptions, ensuring they were properly labeled with consumption advice.
Pharmacy in the Modern Era
Pharmacy is a versatile, dynamic, and growing profession. It has transformed into a hub for global healthcare and evolved into a multidisciplinary field. In India, pharmacy was historically part of medicine within the Ayurvedic and Siddha systems.
Pharmacy in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Pharmacists perform critical roles in industrial settings:
Formulation Development
Commercial drug production is a complex task. Pharmacists develop commercial formulations by understanding the structure of drug substances and combining Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) with inactive excipients. Physicochemical analysis aids in excipient selection and stability testing.
Manufacturing Department
Pharmacists develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), provide staff training, and ensure proper sanitation and safety conditions. They also review production batch records for final approval.
Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA)
- QC: Focuses on testing raw materials and finished products according to pharmacopoeia standards, including stability testing and microbial monitoring.
- QA: Executes systemic monitoring of processes to ensure quality standards are met at every stage of production.
Drug Information and Regulatory Affairs
Pharmacists act as drug experts, providing information on composition, efficacy, and adverse effects. The regulatory department ensures that products meet legal requirements for safety and public health.
Sales, Marketing, and Management
Pharmaceutical marketing updates physicians on drug availability and safety. Management involves planning and implementing strategies to achieve organizational goals, such as profit growth and market share.
Pharmacy as a Career
Pharmacists are essential to the healthcare system, serving as academic, industrial, community, clinical, and hospital professionals. Their goal is ensuring the “Right drug to the right patient at the right time in the right dose.”
Clinical and Academic Practice
- Clinical: Pharmacists monitor patient progress, evaluate medication therapy, and provide primary treatment in emergency conditions.
- Academic: Focuses on teaching, research, and training the next generation of pharmacists through seminars and projects.
Hospital Pharmacy and Pharmacovigilance
Hospital pharmacists manage medication supply, attend ward rounds, and specialize in areas like cardiology or pediatrics. Pharmacovigilance is the science of detecting and preventing adverse effects of medicines.
Community Pharmacy
Community pharmacists provide direct public health services, including blood pressure testing, smoking cessation support, and management of chronic conditions like diabetes and asthma.