TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS OF PHARMACY PRACTICE AND EDUCATION – USA AND INDIA [Part 1 of 2 part series]

Abstract

In this article, I compare the pharmacy education and practice in US (part 1) and India (part 2). One reason for writing this article was the recent announcement by the Indian pharmacy council that India will start awarding Pharm. D. degree from 2009. In the first part, I discuss the educational and licensure requirements for Pharm. D. in US, and point out, in spite of all good intentions and repeated “pilot demonstration” of how pharmacist involvement in patient care can improve outcome and reduce cost, very little has actually changed for the pharmacist at the ground level. I suggest some of the factors that clearly need to be altered so pharmacist can truly deliver what they are trained to do. If this is the current status of pharmacist in US with Pharm. D. education, what can really be achieved under Indian conditions, where even a B.S. in pharmacy hardly considers a career in pharmacy practice, in retail or hospital setting.