CALCUTTA INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY & ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

Diploma in Pharmacy

Introduction

In India, Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) is a two-year course covers fundamental Pharmacy Education including the application of chemistry in the pharma industry, theoretical & practical concepts of training educational program in India that focuses on pharmaceutical sciences. It is a comprehensive course that prepares students for the pharmacy sector and equips them with knowledge of drugs, their composition, and their effects on the human body. The course covers various subjects such as pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, and pharmaceutics. This article will discuss the Diploma in Pharmacy program in India, including its eligibility criteria, admission process, course curriculum, job prospects, and future scope.

National Education Policy (NEP) of Govt. of India for attaining enhanced learning experiences by the students. In light of this, Pharmacy Council of India, the apex body regulating the pharmacy education in the country, committed to revise the education regulations of Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) program and thus, the ‘Education Regulations 2020’ (ER-2020) has been notified in the Gazette of India in October 2020. This new regulation has given due consideration for the fact that, universally the role of pharmacist has undergone continuous evolution from ‘dispenser of medicines’ to ‘medicine expert’ in the multidisciplinary health care team. Thus, the course of study prescribed in ER-2020 is an amalgamation of all such exercises to arrive at a curriculum structure for D.Pharm that is more relevant to the current practice standards, dynamic to accommodate and address the upcoming changes.

Introduction of ‘Pharmacotherapeutics’ courses (theory and practical) is one of the revolutionary changes in the new curriculum, that will help the students to hone their knowledge and skills in the area of pharmaceutical care services which will certainly redefine the roles of the D.Pharm qualified pharmacists in both community and hospital settings. Also, the introduction of ‘Social Pharmacy’ courses (theory and practical) will provide insights about the primary and preventive healthcare concepts in the country and the potential roles of pharmacists in such healthcare segments.

Objectives

The course objectives describe the key topics that are intended by the teacher to be covered in the course. In general, these are more specific than the scope and broader than the course outcomes. The teacher is expected to discuss the objectives of the course with the students and break-down the course objectives into micro levels as objectives of a specific topic / objectives of a specific lecture, etc. Such an exercise shall make the students to understand the significance of the course / topic / lecture and enhance their attention on the course / topic / lecture.

Prospects

These are broader statements on the purpose of the course in the curriculum, key contents of the course that will contribute to the specific knowledge and or skill developments. The teacher is expected to orient the students about the scope of the particular course at the beginning and intermittently. After completing the Diploma in Pharmacy program, students can work as registered pharmacists in government or private hospitals, medical stores, and drug manufacturing companies. They can also start their own medical stores or pharmacies. The job opportunities in the pharmacy sector are growing rapidly, and there is a huge demand for skilled pharmacists in India. After completing the Diploma in Pharmacy program, students can pursue higher studies in Pharmacy, such as Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) or Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm). They can also pursue research in various pharmaceutical companies or government research organizations. With the rapid growth of the pharmaceutical industry in India, there is a huge demand for skilled pharmacists.

Learning Outcomes

The course outcomes are more specific than the course objectives describe that describe the abilities of the students to perform/act, upon successful completion of the course. Hence, conventionally the course outcomes are described with verbs that are measurable or observable actions. The teacher is expected to describe the desired outcomes of the particular course, so that the students shall understand the various assessment criteria, modalities, and parameters. This also serves as a broader guideline for the teachers for preparing the assessment plan. A well-structured assessment plan associated with the course outcomes shall enable to mapping with the professional competencies and their attainment levels that are attributed to the program outcomes.