The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) is a professional doctoral program designed to prepare students for a dynamic and patient-centric career in pharmacy practice. This six-year program (five years of academic study and one year of mandatory internship/residency) integrates pharmaceutical science with clinical and healthcare applications to ensure graduates are well-equipped for diverse roles in healthcare systems.
The Pharm.D curriculum emphasizes clinical pharmacy, therapeutics, hospital and community pharmacy, pharmacovigilance, and patient care services. It fosters a deep understanding of rational drug use, pharmacotherapeutics, and evidence-based medicine, enabling students to contribute effectively to interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
Students undergo rigorous training through classroom teaching, laboratory work, hospital postings, and hands-on clinical experience, developing skills in prescription auditing, patient counselling, drug monitoring, and clinical research.
Upon completion, Pharm.D graduates are qualified to work in hospitals, community pharmacies, clinical research organizations (CROs), pharmacovigilance centers, regulatory agencies, or pursue postgraduate education and research in clinical pharmacy or related fields.
The program is approved by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and aligned with global standards, empowering students to pursue careers both in India and abroad as clinical pharmacists and healthcare professionals.
Pharm.D. Regulations 2008
Regulations framed under section 10 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 (8 of 1948).
(As approved by the Government of India, Ministry of Health vide, letter)
CHAPTER-I
1. Short title and commencement.
(1) These regulations may be called the Pharm.D. Regulations 2008.
(2) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the official Gazette.
2. Pharm.D.
Shall consist of a certificate, having passed the course of study and examination as prescribed in these regulations, for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist to practice the profession under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
CHAPTER-II
1. Duration of the course. –
a) Pharm.D: The duration of the course shall be six academic years (five years of study and one year of internship or residency) full time with each academic year spread over a period of not less than two hundred working days. The period of six years duration is divided into two phases –
Phase I – consisting of First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth academic year.
Phase II – consisting of internship or residency training during sixth year involving posting in speciality units. It is a phase of training wherein a student is exposed to actual pharmacy practiceor clinical pharmacy services and acquires skill under supervision so that he or she may become capable of functioning independently.
b) Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate): The duration of the course shall be for three academic years (two years of study and one year internship or residency) full time with each academic year spread over a period of not less than two hundred working days. The period of three years duration is divided into two phases –
Phase I – consisting of First and Second academic year.
Phase II – consisting of Internship or residency training during third year involving posting in speciality units. It is a phase of training wherein a student is exposed to actual pharmacy practice or clinical pharmacy services, and acquires skill under supervision so that he or she may become capable of functioning independently.
Minimum qualification for admission to
a) Pharm.D. Part-I Course - A pass in any of the following examinations -
(1) 10+2 examination with Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects along with one of the following subjects: Mathematics or Biology.
(2) A pass in D.Pharm course from an institution approved by the Pharmacy Council of India under section 12 of the Pharmacy Act.
(3) Any other qualification approved by the Pharmacy Council of India as equivalent to any of the above examinations. Provided that a student should complete the age of 17 years on or before 31st December of the year of admission to the course.
Provided that there shall be reservation of seats for the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes in accordance with the instructions issued by the Central Government/State Government/Union Territory Administration as the case may be from time to time.
b) Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate) Course -
A pass in B.Pharm from an institution approved by the Pharmacy Council of India under section 12 of the Pharmacy Act: Provided that there shall be reservation of seats for the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes in accordance with the instructions issued by the Central Government/State Government/Union Territory Administration as the case may be from time to time.
Number of admissions in the above said programmes shall be as prescribed by the Pharmacy Council of India from time to time and presently be restricted as below –
i) Pharm.D. Programme – 30 students.
ii) Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate) Programme – 10 students.
Institutions running B.Pharm programme approved under section 12 of the Pharmacy Act, will only be permitted to run Pharm.D. programme. Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate) programme will be permitted only in those institutions which are permitted to run Pharm.D. programme.
Pharm.D students receive hands-on clinical training at KLE’s Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belagavi, under the guidance of expert faculty from diverse specialties including General Medicine, Cardiology, Oncology, Nephrology, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Each department focuses on its thrust areas, ensuring students gain in-depth exposure to real-time clinical practices across multiple disciplines.
The department imparts training on following speciality department to the Pharm.D students:
Clinical Pharmacy:
Clinical pharmacy is a specialized field within pharmacy practice that focuses on optimizing medication therapy and patient outcomes through direct patient care, evidence-based decision-making, and collaboration with healthcare teams. Clinical pharmacists work in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory care centres, to ensure safe, effective, and appropriate use of medications.
Roles and responsibilities of clinical pharmacists:
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Medication Review and Management
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Patient Counselling
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Medication Reconciliation
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Pharmacotherapy Recommendations
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Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring
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Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
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Dose Adjustment
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Antimicrobial Stewardship
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Clinical Rounds Participation
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Chronic Disease Management
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Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
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Patient-Centered Care
Hospital Pharmacy: A hospital pharmacy is an integral component of healthcare institutions, responsible for the safe, efficient, and effective management of medications for patients within the hospital setting. It encompasses various functions that contribute to optimal patient care, medication safety, and the overall healthcare workflow.
Community Pharmacy: A community pharmacy, also referred to as a retail pharmacy or outpatient pharmacy, is a healthcare facility that operates within the community to provide pharmaceutical services and medications directly to patients. It serves as a primary point of contact for individuals seeking prescription medications, over-the-counter products, and pharmaceutical advice.
Unit dosage formulation/Dose division:
Right drug at the right time. Individualization of doses is important for desired clinical effects and good patient care. Our department is extensively rendering the solid dose division services to the patients in NICU, PICU, Cardiology, and Nephrology department.
Reconstitution of Cytotoxic Drugs:
Faculties and Pharm. D interns of the department are catering reconstitution of cytotoxic drugs services to the oncology department in the hospital.
Total Parenteral Nutrition:
Total parenteral nutrition involves the intravenous administration of nutritionally sufficient and balanced formulations to supply essential nutrition to patients who are unable to tolerate oral or external feeding due to dysfunctional or inaccessible gastrointestinal tract, over the years.
Site Management Office:
KLE-SMO- is an organization that provides Clinical trial-related services [includes infrastructure and staff to meet the requirements as per trial protocol] to an NIH, WHO, Medical Device, biotechnology company, Pharmaceutical sponsor, and its representatives.
Pharmacovigilance/VigiFlow:
VigiFlow is a specialized software tool used in the field of pharmacovigilance to streamline and manage the process of collecting, recording, and analyzing adverse event reports related to pharmaceutical products and medical devices. Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities related to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems.
Recently, our institute was designated as Pharmacovigilance Center. Students in their fifth and sixth years of Pharm D will operate the VigiFlow software that we have. Students participating in Pharm D clerkships and internships will receive enough training to handle the Vigiflow software.
Managed Care Pharmacy
The Managed Care Pharmacy Model is a system that integrates pharmacy practice with healthcare management to ensure patients receive the right medications at the right cost. It also serves as a learning platform for students, equipping them with the necessary skills.
Training/Upskilling
The department periodically organizes conferences, workshops, guest lectures, seminars, and symposiums at the various national and international levels.
The department conducts one annual flagship training program each year entitled ‘Advance Academic Training Programme (AATP)’ on different themes every year and another conference ‘National Pharm. D Colloquium (NPC)’ which is being conducted every year to train the students and acquire necessary skills to practice pharmacy. The department also organizes the guest lectures as per the need of the students.
To know about upcoming NPC more: Click here
