Time to create a bridge between Pharmaceutical education and present Industrial demand

Editorial, Oct 2014 issue

“ Do you know why IIT students get more priorities in industry because their focus is to discover industry demand and coming out with a probable solution back by an extensive research work. Are pharmacy students learning challenges faced by pharmaceutical industry ?

There has been lots of debate about improving pharmacy education system, syllabus and trainings. But it hasn’t coming out with any concrete solution yet. When any person joins pharmacy as career, mostly he joins in pharma industry, clinical research industry / organizations in future. A student pursuing pharmacy can join in various departments like production, quality assurance, quality control, drug regulatory affairs, research and development, formulation development, marketing, clinical trials, pharmacovigilance. Also there are some new opportunities arrived in medical writing, medical coding & medical transcription. Present article focuses on some tips and ideas that will help in creating your own identity and thus makes you easily absorb in department of your choice.

Do you know why IIT students get more priorities in industry because their focus is to discover industry demand and coming out with a probable solution back by an extensive research work. Are pharmacy students learning challenges faced by pharmaceutical industry? When pharma students complete their graduation, they have very less or no idea on what is their responsibilities in production or research or quality assurance or quality control or related areas. Scholar students are also less active in research activities and don’t have ideas on current trends and situation.

WHOM TO BLAME?
We always start blaming to education system or institutes or syllabus for such situation. But I have different view on that. Systems or institutes perform all actions which they need to and ordered to do, but what students or learners are doing? It is your career. So, don’t depend on anyone to build it. You have to put your extra efforts along with daily study work. You have to fulfill all criteria and stand strongly to receive your chance for job.

WHAT MAY BE DONE?
Today, there are many issues that Indian pharma industry is facing. Such as quality issues, clinical trial issues, patent issues, low cost drugs competition issues, production issues. Definitely industry needs qualified and genius minds who can compete with such problems and take company to at top level in world market.

AND HERE IS YOUR CHANCE! THERE ARE CERTAIN IMPORTANT ASPECTS THAT YOU SHOULD FOLLOW:

In this competitive era, many colleges or institutes have made industry visits as a part of institutional program. It is really appreciating that you visit the place where you want to work in future. It is more than an opportunity to examine industries closely on how they work. Always try to visit more than one industry for a broader outlook.

There are lots of conferences and seminars going on. ‘Certain thoughts are flowing now-a-days that it is useless to attend conferences and seminars.’ But believe me it is of utmost importance to attend seminars & conferences. These are the only place where you come to know about current trend and research. These are the only platforms where your senior most professionals interact with you. Believe me, attending top level conferences and seminars provides major change in your thought process and approaches towards your goal. So if possible, attend conferences and seminars related to your goal.

When we talk on paper publication, I must start with plagiarism issues. Just stop copy-paste things from web or journals and perform your work sincerely same is applicable in review articles too. Try to perform unique research work in your post-graduation level. For Eg. if some authors worked on atenolol for some activities in past, there is no need to do same activity research for metoprolol. There is no creativity or research in it. And when students are not getting good profile job, they starts blaming pharmacy profession and why did they took it? I must write, it is not pharmacy profession which crouching us but we made our pharmacy profession to go down on its knees.

This is most important among all. Industries major problem is regulatory issue. All medicinal or pharmaceutical products are subjected to regulations which are designed by government or regulatory agencies (like, CDSCO, FDA etc) to protect public health. And all companies have to compile with those rules while producing or researching of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. In today’s competitive environment, pharma companies are racing for launching theirnew products. High cost for research is not less than a challenge. And hastening strategies put tremendous pressure on regulatory departments because delay in approvals means a massive loss in profit. So, this is the area which is booming and need sharp head professionals to lead the way.

There is no definition for creating contacts. You have to do it by yourself. And start connecting with your seniors from college and take guidance from them time by time.

Identify your mistakes and try to correct them. Industries always need candidates with good communication skills. Take part in various curriculum competitions like poster presentation, group discussions, debates etc. Don’t limit your knowledge up to books but open new doors for yourself. You may make your own list of strengths and weakness.

So it’s a time to create your own way to hit at bulls eye. Following people is good thing but following own belief or goal is the best practice. Learn to believe that TOMORROW WILL BE YOURS.

- Rajesh Vagh

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