Pharmacy, the health procession concerned with knowledge about drugs and their effects, draws from the chemical, physical, biological and behavioral sciences. It offers diverse opportunities in India and around the world. Pharmacists may practice in a community or hospital pharmacy; a nursing home or extended care facility; pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology industry and other private or public companies; government agencies; a college; or many other venues. Not only are pharmacy graduates among America's best paid and most respected professionals, but health care trends make pharmacy a nearly recession proof career choice. Here are just a few brief sketches of opportunities pursued by the Pharmacy graduates.

Community Pharmacy
Community pharmacists are responsible for safe and efficient dispensing of prescription medications, advising patients on proper prescription and “over-the-counter” nonprescription medication use, and keeping records of patients and their health, illness and medications. Community pharmacists also provide information and advice about medications to physicians and other health professionals. In addition, community pharmacists increasingly provide pharmacy services and supplies to the growing number of patients who receive health care at home, and they are actively involved in community service.

Hospital Pharmacy
Hospital pharmacists advise other health professionals about the actions, interactions, and side effects of drugs, and counsel patients about medications. They may help select the medications the hospital will use, manufacture preparations, dispense prescription drugs, and handle special products like radioactive medicines, artificial kidney fluid, and plastic inserts. Many hospital-based pharmacists also are administrators and influential members of important committees.

Nursing Home and Extended Care Facility Pharmacy
Pharmacists who work in nursing homes and extended care facilities provide prescription service for patients, and they consult with other health professionals who care for the patients. As consultants they review patient charts for correct dosages, drug interactions, adverse reactions, or side effects, and also counsel patients about their medications.

Industrial Pharmacy
Pharmacists employed by pharmaceutical or biotechnology firms work in research and development, testing of medications in humans and animals, production systems, quality control, government regulations, marketing, public relations, sales and management. Pharmacists who work in industry often need additional specialized education, such as post-doctoral study or a Ph.D. degree.

Other Opportunities
Pharmacy graduates work in the Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Veterans Administration, the Public Health Service, the Armed Forces, the National Institutes of Health, and many other government agencies. They also find ample practice opportunities in managed care organizations, home health care agencies, general and specialized clinics, or as drug information specialists in a hospitals or other health care organizations.

Many Pharmacy graduates go on to teaching and administrative careers at leading colleges and universities around the world. Others chose career paths writing and editing for trade and scientific journals or publishing houses, in marketing communications, or working in pharmacy associations.

With a Pharmacy degree, you'd also find career paths in writing and editing for pharmaceutical and other scientific journals, preparing medical advertisements or working in various pharmacy association