Everything You Need to Know About Pharmacy Careers and Education

PHARMACYPROFESSION 1
PHARMACY PROFESSION
WHAT IS PHARMACY
Pharmacy is the science and technique of preparing, dispensing, and review of drugs and
providing additional clinical services. It is a health profession that links health sciences
with pharmaceutical sciences and aims to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of drugs.
WHO IS PHARMACIST
Pharmacists are medication experts who use their detailed knowledge of medicines to help patients
get well. The methods they use vary from one practice setting to the next, but general pharmacist
responsibilities include:
 Dispensing medications, assuring the safety and appropriateness of the prescribed therapy
 Monitoring patient health and progress to achieve the best medication results
 Partnering with consumers and patients to provide education and advice on the use of
prescription and over-the-counter medications
 Collaborating with physicians, nurses, and other members of the health care team to provide
expertise on drug decisions and improve patient outcomes
 Providing knowledge about the composition of drugs based upon their chemical, biological,
and physical properties, as well as their manufacture and use
 Safeguarding drug purity and strength

CAREER OPPORTUNITUNITIES
It is an incredibly exciting time to pursue a career in pharmacy and students graduating from the Texas
A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy have a wide-range of career opportunities available to
them. To learn more about these opportunities, see below.
RETAIL PHARMACY
The majority of pharmacists work in retail pharmacy. Retail pharmacists dispense and verify
medications, counsel patients on medication use and general health topics, and recommend over-the-
counter products. Additionally, depending on the pharmacy, retail pharmacists may vaccinate patients or
offer medication therapy management to patients with chronic disorders or both. Retail pharmacists
manage pharmacy technicians and may choose to pursue a management track.
INDEPENENT PHARMACY
In addition to the responsibilities described under retail pharmacy, pharmacists working at an
independent pharmacy may compound medications and, depending on the size of the pharmacy they own,
they may manage finances, order and take inventory of items sold at the pharmacy, manage personnel,
make payroll, etc. Individuals interested in owning a pharmacy should consider the PharmD/MBA dual
degree program offered by the Rangel College of Pharmacy and consider joining the National Community
Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Hospital pharmacists advise health care providers and patients on the safe and effective use of medications
and are responsible for choosing, preparing, storing, compounding, and dispensing medications. Other
responsibilities include monitoring medication use, implementing hospital regulations related to
medication, and other administrative tasks. Individuals interested in hospital pharmacy typically complete
a pharmacy residency program and should consider joining the Student Society of Health-System
Pharmacists.
CLINICAL PHARMACY
Clinical pharmacists work with physicians and other health care professionals to ensure that
medications contribute to optimal patient health outcomes. Responsibilities may include evaluating patient
response to prescribed medications, attending patient rounds in hospital units and counselling patients.
Clinical pharmacists work in hospitals, health clinics, nursing homes and insurance companies.
Individuals interested in clinical pharmacy typically complete a pharmacy residency program and should
consider joining the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
MANAGED CARE
Managed care pharmacists work directly with other health care professionals to provide
medication therapy management, while considering the economic impact on patients. They provide a
broad range of clinical services including monitoring patient safety and outcomes, managing formularies,
and patient education. Managed care pharmacists typically work for health plans and pharmacy benefit
management companies. Residency opportunities are available to individuals interested in managed care
and interested individuals should consider joining the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy.
INDUSTRY
There are a broad range of opportunities available to pharmacists in the pharmaceutical industry.
They can participate in research and development, quality assurance, drug information, sales, marketing,
regulatory affairs or clinical trials. Individuals interested in working in the pharmaceutical industry
typically participate in postgraduate fellowship programs available at many pharmaceutical companies.
CONSULT PHARMACY
Pharmacy consultants typically work with long-term care facilities and review drug regimens, offer
pharmacokinetic dosing services, patient counselling and therapeutic drug monitoring. Long-term care
facilitates include nursing homes, mental institutions, home health agencies, hospice care, correctional
institutions, rehabilitation centres and adult day care centres.

ACADEMIA
Pharmacists interested in training the next generation can pursue a career as faculty member at a
college or school of pharmacy. Pharmacy faculty teach, conduct research, participate in public service,
precept students and contribute to patient care. Individuals interested in a career in academia should
consider residencies with significant teaching components.
NECLEAR PHARMACY
Nuclear pharmacists compound and dispense radiopharmaceuticals for use in medical procedures.
Individuals interested in nuclear pharmacy must complete a training program after earning a Doctor of
Pharmacy degree and should consider residency programs that focus on nuclear pharmacy. Students
enrolled at the Rangel College of Pharmacy may choose to enrol in an elective nuclear pharmacy rotation
in the fourth year of the PharmD program.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
The National Institutes of Health, FDA, US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, United
States Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Veterans Administration, and Armed
Forces all employ pharmacists. Pharmacists working with a governmental agency engage in a wide range
of tasks, including patient care, biomedical and epidemiological research, reviewing new drug
applications, and developing and administering health care policy.
REFERENCE
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacy
https://pharmacy.umich.edu/prospective-students/discover/what-pharmacy
https://pharmacy.tamhsc.edu/future/careers.html
PHARMACY AS EDUCATION
ABSTRACT
Pharmacy education in Bangladesh started its journey in 1964 after the establishment of
Department of Pharmacy in the University of Dhaka. The first academic session (1964 -1965) of the
department began with 24 students, including 4 female students. However, Pharmacy as a profession was
recognized in Bangladesh after the promulgation of Pharmacy Ordinance 1976. Initially, the academic
curriculum consisted of a 3-year Bachelor (Honors) and 1-year Master of Pharmacy programs. Later on,
the undergraduate program was upgraded to 4-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honors) degree in 1996. In
2010, the undergraduate course was further upgraded to 5-year with internship in hospitals and
pharmaceutical industries in order to cope with the international Pharm. D. (Doctor of Pharmacy) program.
Pharmacy graduates in Bangladesh are mainly employed in different sectors of pharmaceutical industries.
Very recently, a few pharmacists have been employed as hospital pharmacists in few highly reputed
private hospitals. However, hospital, community and clinical pharmacy in Bangladesh have not been well
developed due to lack of government policy and hence our people are partly deprived of proper healthcare
services in Bangladesh.

TALK OF THE BEGING
Pharmacy as a profession was recognized in Bangladesh after the promulgation of Bangladesh
Pharmacy Ordinance 1976. Although, the pharmacy education started in Bangladesh (the then East
Pakistan) in1964 after the establishment of Department of Pharmacy in the University of Dhaka it is
notable to mention here that the pharmacy education in the then West Pakistan (present Pakistan) was
started in 1944 after the introduction of the pharmacy courses at the Punjab University in Lahore. This
clearly indicates how the people of the then East Pakistan (present Bangladesh) were deprived to get
pharmacy education. The Department of Pharmacy at the University of Dhaka started its journey with 24
students (20 males and 4 female) from the academic year 1964-65. The journey was initiated with very
poor infrastructure and laboratory facilities. At that time (from 1964-1966), the students of pharmacy used
to share the classrooms and laboratories with the students of the Department of Biochemistry. Professor
Kamal Uddin Ahmad was the first Head of the Department of Pharmacy, while he was also serving as the
Head of the Department of Biochemistry. In 1966, Dr. A. Jabbar (now Emeritus Professor) took charge
of the Department of Pharmacy although he was in the core to initiate pharmacy education in Bangladesh
(Annual Report, University of Dhaka, 2007-2008). At the beginning, Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmad (late), Dr.
A. Jabbar, Dr. N. H. Khan, Dr. Golam Haider, Dr. Atiqur Rahman, Dr. Akhter Hossain, Dr. Anwarul Azim
Choudhury (late), and Mr. Parvez Ahmed were the faculty members. Later on, Dr. Abdur Rashid
Purakaystha, Dr. S.A. Talukder, Dr. A. Ghani, and Mr Sukkur Khan joined the department. Prof. Jabbar
is regarded and honored as the pioneer of pharmacy education in Bangladesh.
CHRONOLOGY OF PHARMACY COURSE
The Department of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka started pharmacy education by offering a 3-
year Bachelor of Pharmacy course (B. Pharm.). Later on, the degree was changed to B. Pharm. (Honors)
due to heavy demand of the students. The first batch of students graduated in 1969. Then, 1-year Master
of Pharmacy (M. Pharm.) course was initiated for a limited number of students who opted for research.
At the beginning, other students were not allowed to do M. Pharm. However, in 1970 the department
decided to offer the 1-year M. Pharm. Course to all the graduate students under two groups: thesis and
non-thesis. From 1996, the 3-year B. Pharm. (Honors) program was upgraded to 4-year (Honors) program
with an extensive change in the curriculum and syllabus. In 2003, the 4-year undergraduate program has
been taken under the control of Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and 1-year postgraduate course (thesis
and non-thesis group) has been started in three new departments under the Faculty of Pharmacy (Annual
Report, Dhaka University, 2007-08; www.pharmadu.net; Chowdhury, 2007). At present, the faculty offers
undergraduate course to 70 students each year (65 seats for native students and 5 seats for foreigners)
whereas, each department under the faculty offers M. Pharm. course in respective subject to one third of
the total graduates in each year.
DEPARTMENT TO FACULTRY
Pharmacy is a multidisciplinary subject which comprises many subjects of different disciplines.
Here, all the subjects are categorized mainly into three major disciplines:
(i) pharmaceutical chemistry, medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, pharmaceutical analysis,
etc
(ii) pharmaceutical technology, biopharmaceutics, etc. and
(iii) pharmacology, clinical pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, etc. All these subjects are taught in the
undergraduate program.

However, to further upgrade the teaching and learning in order to meet the increasing demand of
pharmacists both nationally and internationally, the Faculty of Pharmacy started its journey in 1995.
Professor Dr. Nurun Nahar Rahman was appointed as the first acting Dean of the Faculty.
As per the decision of the Syndicate meeting of the University of Dhaka (Highest decision making
body) in 2003, the 4-year B. Pharm (Hons.) program was taken under the Faculty of Pharmacy. From then,
the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy has been controlling and coordinating the undergraduate program.
At the same time, to provide specialization in specific discipline at postgraduate level, three new
departments were established:
(i) Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry,
(ii) Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology (now Department of
Pharmaceutical
Technology) and
(iii) Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology. Professor Dr. A. K. Azad Chowdhury
(19.08.1995 to 24.09.1995 and 12.12.1995 to 29.09.1996), Professor Dr. Munir Uddin Ahmed
(27.08.1997 to 06.12.1997 and 08.03.1998 to 30.09.1999) and Professor Dr. Choudhury Mahmood Hasan
(01.10.1999 to 20.12.2003) served as the elected Dean of the faculty.
As a Dean, Professor Choudhury Mahmood Hasan played premier role to establish three new departments
at postgraduate levels under the Faculty. Unfortunately, it took almost 8 years after the establishment of
the faculty in 1995 to open any new department and make them functional and effective both
administratively and academically. Professor Dr. Md. Abdur Rashid served as elected Dean of the Faculty
from December 2003-October 2010. During This period, the Faculty of Pharmacy turned to a new
dimension in terms of academic and research activities and development of infrastructures and laboratory
facilities due to coordinated, dynamic and untiring efforts of the learned faculty members. To enhance the
academic activity of the new departments of the faculty, Mr. Khondokar Mirazur Rahman, Mr.
Rasheduzzaman Chowdhury, Mr. Mohiuddin Abdul Quadir and Mr. Md. Abdul Mazid joined as the new
faculty members of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 2003. Later on, more than 20 new
teachers were appointed to the faculty to further enhance and improve the teaching and learning. As a
result of the hard work and coordinated efforts of the teachers of different departments, the Faculty of
Pharmacy has been able to run the Bachelor and Masters programs according the academic calendar
without any session jam. From 12 October 2010, Professor Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman took over the charge
as the newly elected Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy.
EXPANSION OF PHARMACY EDUCATION IN BANGLADESH
Pharmacy education in other public universities: Bangladesh is a densely populated country,
and the literacy rate is still very poor. It is unfortunate to mention here that, after 1971, the University of
Dhaka had been the only institution offering pharmacy education in Bangladesh and it took almost 14
years to establish the second Department of Pharmacy in Jahangirnagar University in 1985. To promote
pharmacy education, new pharmacy departments have been established in other public universit ies.
However, all these departments are suffering from lack of space, class rooms, laboratory facilities and
specialized equipments and more importantly qualified faculty members.

Sl. Name of University Location Year of
Establishment
No. of
seats/year
Accreditation
by PCB
1 University of Dhaka Dhaka 1964 70 Permanent
2 Jahangirnagar University Savar 1985 55 Permanent
3 Rajshahi University Rajshahi 1990 45 Permanent
4 Khulna University Khulna 1997 37 Temporary
5 Noakhali Science and
Technology University
Noakhali 2006 50 Temporary
6 Jagannath University Dhaka 2009 20 N/A
7 Jessore University Jessore 2010 -- N/A
Pharmacy education in private universities: The establishment of private university in
Bangladesh was initiated through the Private University Act 1992. Until 2010, 22 private universities
(Table 2) out of 54 are offering pharmacy courses. The universities conducting pharmacy courses are not
homogenously distributed throughout the country. For instance, out of the 22 universities, 18 are located
in the capital city Dhaka andthe rest of them are located in Chittagong. There is no private university in
Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barisal, Rangpur, Maymensingh, and Comilla regions to offer pharmacy
courses. However, most of the private universities offering pharmacy courses do not have their own
campuses. Moreover, the number of trained and qualified faculty members is also scarce in those
universities as per UGC (University Grants Commission) guidelines. Although the UGC and PCB have
been trying to upgrade the pharmacy education in Bangladesh, there are still a lot to be accomplished.
S
L.
Name of University Location Year of
Establishme
nt
Accreditatio
n
by PCB
1 University of Science and Technology,
Chittagong
Chittagong 1994 PA
2 The University of Asia Pacific Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1996 PA
3 Gono Biswabiddyalay Savar 1998 PA
4 Manarat International University Mirpur, Dhaka 2003 PA
5 State University of Bangladesh Dhanmondi, Dhaka 2003 PA
6 East-West University Mohakhali, Dhaka 2003 PA
7 Southeast University Banani, Dhaka 2003 PA
8 Northern University Mohammadpur,
Dhaka
2003 PA

9 North South University Basundhara, Dhaka 2005 PA
10 Dhaka International University Banani, Dhaka 2006 PA
11 Daffodil International University Dhanmondi, Dhaka -- PA
12 Brac University Banani, Dhaka -- PA
INTRODUCTION OF 5 YEAR PHARMACY PROGRAM IN THE UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
In Bangladesh, more than 95% opportunities for pharmacists are prevailing in pharmaceutical
industries. However, in USA, Australia, Canada and the Middle East, pharmacy profession is highly
patient care oriented, and they have much more opportunities in hospitals, clinics and community
pharmacy sectors (Ghilzai and Dutta, 2007; Babar, 2005; www.bapibd.com). Those who have only Pharm.
D. [Doctor of Pharmacy, which is actually a graduate program like MD (Doctor of Medicine), DVM
(Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), etc] or equivalent degrees, are now eligible to practice in hospitals and
clinics in USA and other developed countries as well as in the Middle East. It is to be mentioned here that,
after 2003, our graduates with the 4-year B. Pharm. (Honors) degree are not allowed to sit for the pharmacy
registration examination in the USA. Therefore, to improve the undergraduate courses to global standards
and to prepare our students for the changing trends so that they can work in global environment,
introduction of Pharm. D. program is highly essential and a prime need.
Several Indian universities, under the guidance of Pharmacy Council of India, have already
introduced Pharm. D. program from the academic year 2008 (Ghilzai and Dutta, 2007). In Pakistan,
Pharm. D. course has been introduced from 2005 after the recommendation of Higher Education
Commission of Pakistan (Babar, 2005). Thailand and Singapore have also introduced Pharm. D. course
recently. In Japan, Pharm. D. course has been introduced from 2006. Similarly, the universities in KSA,
Qatar, UAE have also introduced Pharm. D. programs (Babar, 2005; www.bapibd.com; Ahmed and
Hassali, 2008; Jamshed et al., 2007).
However, until now there has not been any initiative from the governmental authority which
regulates the pharmacy profession in Bangladesh. Hence, keeping these in mind, the Faculty of Pharmacy
in the University of Dhaka took the initiative to upgrade the pharmacy curriculum. On 6 November 2007,
an Academic Committee Meeting of the Faculty presided by Professor M. A. Rashid, form a sub-
committee to review the Pharm. D. courses of different universities in USA, Japan, India etc. The sub-
committee comprising of Professor Dr. Monira Ahsan (convenor), Dr. Md. Selim Reza, Dr. Abdul Hasnat,
Dr. Md. Abdul Mazid, Mr. Elias Al-Mamun, Mr. Jakir Ahmed Chowdhury, and Mr. Abul Kalam Azad
reviewed the syllabi of the Pharm. D. program of different universities around the world and submitted a
proposal on 8 April 2008 to the Dean of the Faculty to upgrade the present 4-year B. Pharm. program to
5-year Pharm. D. program with internship in hospitals. The proposal was approved by the academic
committee meeting and subsequently faculty meeting and was sent to the highest authority of the
university of Dhaka for approval. On 25 August 2010, the Academic Council of the University of Dhaka
approved a 5-year B. Pharm. program from the academic session 2010-2011 instead of the Pharm. D.
program. We hope the learned members of the AcademicCouncil will reconsider our proposal soon and
approve thename of the 5-year B. Pharm. program to Pharm. D. as per the international standard.
Although, University of Dhaka has introduced the 5-year B. Pharm. program, neither the PCB nor the
other university authorities has taken the initiative to upgrade the existing 4-year B. Pharm. (Honors)
program.

REGULATION OF PHARMACY EDUCATION IN BANGLADESH
Bangladeshi universities are affiliated with the University Grants Commission (UGC), a
commission created according to the Presidential Order (P.O. No 10 of 1973) of the Government of the
Peoples’ Republic of
Bangladesh. However, since pharmacy is a professional subject, the Government of the People's Republic
of Bangladesh promulgated Pharmacy Ordinance (No. X111) in 1976 and set up Pharmacy Council of
Bangladesh (PCB) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
From then the pharmacy courses are designed and controlled by the PCB. To ensure quality
teaching and to meet the high professional standard of the pharmacists, PCB initiated ‘A grade’
registration examination system for the pharmacy graduates of different universities in 2005. Pharmacists
having ‘A’ grade registration are eligible to practice pharmacy in Bangladesh. It is to be mentioned here
that in USA, UK or other European countries, and in most of the developed and developing countries, all
the graduates in pharmacy must qualify in the Pharmacy Licensing Examination. Those who pass the
pharmacy licensing examination are allowed to practice pharmacy. This licensing examination is very
essential to maintain and improve the standard and quality in pharmacy practice and to develop
professionalism among the pharmacists.
OTHER PHARMACY COURSE IN BANGLADESH
The PCB also regulates 3-year diploma of pharmacy courses. Three public Institutes: Institute of
Health Technology, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Institute of Health technology, Rajshahi; and Armed Forces
Medical Institute (AFMI) under the Ministry of Defense are offering the 3- year Pharmacy courses. A
number of private institutes are also offering 3-year diploma in pharmacy courses. Those who have
completed secondary school certificate (SSC) in science group are eligible to get admission into 3-year
diploma in pharmacy course. The PCB provides ‘B’ grade registration to the students who have passed
the 3-year diploma in pharmacy course. Since, PCB directly regulates the curriculum and examinations of
this course, no separate examination is arranged to provide registration. Moreover, PCB also regulates
pharmacy certificate course. Those, who have passed SSC in any group can take 3-month special courses
designed and jointly conducted by Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Society (BPS) (www.bps-bd.org) and
Bangladesh Chemists and Druggists Society (BCDS) and can sit for the examination. Those who pass this
certificate course are categorized as ‘C’ grade pharmacists by PCB and they usually work in community
pharmacy or run their own pharmacies.
REFERANCE
Ahmed, S.I. and Hassali, M.A.A. 2008, The Controversy of Pharm. D. Degree (letter). Am J Pharm Edu.
72(3), Article 71.
Annual Report (87th), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2007-2008.
Chowdhury, A.K.A. 2007. Pharmacy education in Bangladesh: past, present and future. BAPA Journal,
Aug, 10-14.
Babar, Z.U. 2005, Pharmacy education and practice in Pakistan [letter], Am J Pharm Educn. 69(5),
Article 105
Ghilzai, N.M. and Dutta, A.P. 2007, India to introduce five-year Doctor of Pharmacy program (letter),
Am. J Pharm. Edu. 71(2), Article 38.
http://www.bps-bd.org
http://www.pharmadu.net
http://www.bapibd.com
Jamshed, S., Babar, Z.U. and Masood, I. 2007, The Pharm. D

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION
OVERALL JOB SCOPES OF PHARMACISTS
 Pharmaceutical industries (Finished medicines, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/APIs,
and Excipients Manufacturing industries): In Production, Quality Control (QC), Quality
Assurance (QA), Product Development (PD), cGMP Training, Warehouse, Drug Research and
Invention, and Technical Services Department (TSD).
 Pharmaceutical Marketing: Product Management Department (PMD), Medical Services
Department (MSD), Sales Promotion/Medical Promotion, Clinical Services, Training for field
forces, and International Marketing (IM) departments.
 Drug Regulatory Affairs.
 Hospital Pharmacy (Govt. and Private Hospitals)
 Academic positions (govt. and private universities)
 Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh
 Drug Administration (Directorate General of Drug Administration of Bangladesh)
 Drug Testing Laboratories (Dhaka and Chittagong)
 Huge opportunities in abroad (jobs, research, and teaching)
 Community Pharmacy
 Clinical Pharmacy
 Retail & Chain Pharmacy
4.2
4.5
3.5
2.5
9
23
53
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
others
Jobs in abroad
Higher education
Research
Teaching in Universities
Pharma Marketing
Pharmaceutical Industry
AXIS TITLE
OVER100STUDENTS
NUMBER OF EMPLOYED PHARMACISTS

 Research & Development in Pharma industries, educational and research institutes
(Research for new drug molecules, Novel Drug Delivery Systems, Improved Healthcare, Clinical
aspects, etc.)
[Most of the Pharmacists in the countries like USA, UK, Canada, Australia, European
countries, India, Arabian countries including Saudi Arabia, etc. are working in marked areas, on
the contrary, these potential aspects of Pharmacy profession have not yet been introduced in
Bangladesh]
PRESENT JOB SCOPES
PRESENT JOB
SCOPES
Private Hospital
Pharmaceutical
Industry
Academic
Positioninthe
Universities
Drug
Administration

FUTURE PROSPECTS WITH NEW EXCITING JOB AREAS
PRESENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR NEW PHARMACISTS
 Job crisis in the Pharmaceutical industries:
The pharmaceutical sector of Bangladesh has developed in the manufacturing of finished pharmaceutical
products; the API and Excipients based industries have not yet remarkably advanced in this country. So,
Bangladeshi Pharmacists have job scope limited to pharmaceutical finished products manufacturing
Hospital
Pharmacy
Food
industries
Retail &
chain
Pharmacy
New Drug
Research in
Pharma
companies
and other
institutes
Community
Pharmacy
Chemical
and
cosmetic
industries
Ayurvedic,
Unani and
Herbal
industries
better drug
Clinical
Pharmacy
Pharmacist
API and
Excipients’
based plants
API and
Excipients’
based plants
API and
Excipients’
based plants

industries. At present, industrial jobs also are saturated or will saturate soon. Therefore, getting entrance
of new Pharmacists to Pharmaceutical Industries become quite tough or have narrow scope for new
Pharmacists.
 Eligibility Problem of Bangladeshi Pharmacists in abroad:
The present Pharmacy education system of Bangladesh does not comply with the international
requirements for jobs and higher studies in many countries. For example, United States of America
demands for Pharm. D. degree for practicing Pharmacy profession. At present, it is not possible even to
sit for the pre-qualifying examination to become a licensed Pharmacist (RPh) in USA without Pharm. D.
degree. The scenario is same in UK too. Many countries including Japan require total schooling year 18
with the completion of M. Pharm. degree for the enrollment in Ph. D. course. But still the total schooling
year is 17 in Bangladesh including the completion of M. Pharm. degree. Because of this lack many
students could not catch govt. scholarship for Ph.D. study.
 Eligibility challenge of Pharmacists to work in APIs and Excipients manufacturing
industries:
Most of the Pharmacists are currently working in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical finished drugs.
As those industrial jobs have already been occupied, the new job scopes may be created with the
introduction of manufacturing operations in the API plants of proposed API Park. But the challenging
matter is that are the pharmacists ready or can they cope with the technical know-how for the
manufacturing and synthesis of raw materials in API industries? If not, we should make our new Pharmacy
graduates to be suitable for API industries. For the expertise handling of this technical area, the
pharmacists should be accustomed with their possible role and technical know-how in order to work in
this segment of Pharmaceutical industry.
 Jobs of Pharmacists in abroad becoming tough day by day:
US Government opened the door of Pharmacists as immigrant in mid 1970s. Bangladeshi
Pharmacists were able to get direct registration for the practice of Pharmacy profession up to late 1980s.
That exclusive opportunity has already been closed. Now, Bangladeshi Pharmacists have to sit for the
registration examination if they have Pharm. D. degree, otherwise they can’t even sit for the prequalifying
examination for registration. Obtaining professional registration is mandatory in other countries like UK,
Canada, Japan, Australia, and other countries as well. Bangladeshi Pharmacists could get jobs in Middle
East countries up to 1990 in the hospitals and retail chain pharmacies. These opportunities also have
decreased significantly for Bangladeshi Pharmacists because of the competitors from other countries.
 WTO/TRIPS patent exemption for Bangladeshi Pharmaceuticals: suspension or renewal-
possible influence on Pharmacy profession:
Bangladesh has exempted patent exemption for products manufacturing up to 2016 to fulfill the local
demand and export to Least Developed Countries (LDCs). There is a possibility to withdraw this exclusive
opportunity after this period. If Bangladesh loses the patent exemption opportunity after 2016, the price
of patented medicines may be very costly in Bangladesh, and for the reduction of production cost of
medicines the manufacturers may reduce employment of Pharmacists in the manufacturing industries.
This may impose a negative influence on the future Pharmacy profession in Pharmaceutical industries in
Bangladesh. However, if Bangladesh luckily gets WTO/TRIPS patent exemption for next 5-10 years along

with other LDCs, the job opportunity trend of Pharmacists will be normal as presently existing. In this
case, it would be good for pharmaceutical sector of Bangladesh if Pharmacists are hugely employed by
the pharmaceutical industries for maximum utilization of patent-exemption opportunity to capitalize and
bags the patented products as many as 3 possible by adopting new formulation of patented products,
introducing as many patented API’s as possible, and by exporting those active ingredients and finished
products to other LDCs to get maximum revenue from abroad. This may crease a healthy employment
opportunity for Pharmacists. This issue is quite uncertain and under observations.
CONCLUSION
Pharmacy is a very important profession, which deals with the manufacturing, handing, proper
utilization, dispensing, and administration of life saving drugs. Thus, the role of Pharmacists will never
be ended as long as drugs will exist in this world. At the same time, as Pharmacists deal with life-saving
drugs, the safety of patients or its ultimate user are mostly depending of the knowledge, proper handling,
drug manufacturing, sincerity, and quality of a Pharmacist. Although the traditional jobs of Pharmacists
in Bangladesh have saturated, many prospective jobs are still beckoning to open in our country. So, the
future of Pharmacy profession is challenging and charming as well. The future Pharmacists of Bangladesh
should prepare themselves and be capable enough to catch the next job opportunities that may be explored
in our country. The Pharmaceutical Society and the Pharmacy Graduates’ Association have to play vital
role for the expansion of job opportunities for the future Pharmacists. Our govt. should open the job scopes
of Pharmacists for the safe and rational utilization drugs and for the better health management of country
people.
REFERENCES
1. Azad AK.Pharmacy Education in Bangladesh: Past,Present and Future, BAPA Convention,New York,
August 8-9, 2008.
2.Directorate General of Drug Administration of Bangladesh, web: http://www.ddabd.org/contacts.htm,
accessed on 01-06-2011.
PHARMACY LAW & ETHICS
Terminology
- Law
Law literally means a rule of action established by authority, a statute, the rules of a community
or state etc. It is a pillar of human society and is necessary for each and every phase of life. Law and men
are inseparable. It is an authoritative instrument which is always promulgated under government authority
caring at its back a force for punishment.

- Ethics
Ethics is the branch of philosophy and is the science of moral principle. It includes oaths of ethical
conduct for men in all walks of life and professions relevant to their special needs. All written and
unwritten principles which are expected in any profession as the basis of proper behavior, constitute the
ethics of profession.
- Law is enforced by the State and ethics is only moral being.
Cont…
- Forensic pharmacy
The term forensic means something pertaining to court of justice or to public disputation. Forensic
pharmacy is the legislative branch of pharmacy which deals with regulatory affairs, ordinances, acts and
rules related to pharmaceuticals.
- Ordinance
The term ordinance means a rule that is trained or established by the authority. It is an
authoritative regulation, decree, law, or practice.
- Act
An act is a formal transduction of legislative or other deliberative body.
PHARMACY ACT & PHARMACY ORDINANCE 1976
To regulate and control the practice of pharmacy, pharmacy council of Bangladesh was
established on the basis of Pharmacy Ordinance.
- The ordinance describe _
- 1. Structure of pharmacy council
- 2. Function of pharmacy council
- 3. Qualification to get a registration of being a pharmacist
- 4. Prohibition of practice without registration Structure of pharmacy council.
According to the ordinance, the pharmacy council consists of the following members, namely_
- The secretary of health population control and family planning
department will be the president of the council. The Government can give appointment to any other
person to be the president.
- Director of health service, ex-officio.
- Director or head of the department of drug administration, ex-officio.
- d) Chairman or head of the Department of Pharmacy in the University of Dhaka, ex-officio.
- e) Four persons to be nominated by the Government that one of them is a professor of Medicine and one
is a Professor of Pharmacology of medical institution in Bangladesh, one is qualified pharmacist and the
other person is nominated by the Government.

- f) One qualified pharmacist to be nominated by the Bangladesh Aushad
Shilpa Samity.
- g) One person to be nominated by the Bangladesh Medical Association.
- h) One qualified pharmacist to be nominated by the Bangladesh Chemists and Druggists Samity.
- i) Three persons to be nominated by the Pharmaceutical Society of Bangladesh registered under the
Societies Registration Act, 1860 (XXI of 1860).
According to the ordinance the Government may increase or decrease the number of persons to be
nominated by notification in the official Gazette.
Functions of the Pharmacy Council
The functions of the pharmacy council are as follows,
- To approve examinations in pharmacy for the purpose of qualified
persons for registration as pharmacists.
- To prescribe the subjects in which approved examinations will be held.
- To approve the courses of study and practical training in pharmacy, so as to fill up the purpose of
admission to approved examination.
- d) To prescribe the conditions and procedure for admission of candidates to an approved examination.
- e) To lay down the standard of teaching to be maintained by institutions conducting the approved
courses of study.
- f) To prescribe the equipment and facilities to be made available to the students.
- g) To recognize degree or diploma in pharmacy for the purpose of registration as pharmacists.
- h) To cause inspection of institutions which conduct any course of study in pharmacy and of the
teachings imparted and examinations held by them.
- i) To prepare and maintain Registers of pharmacists and apprentices in pharmacy.
- j) To register pharmacists and grant certificates of registration.
- k) To hold examinations for the purpose of registration as pharmacists, and
- l) To do such other acts and things as it may be empowered or required to do by or under this
Ordinance.
QUALIFICATION FOR REGISTRATION ASPHARMACIST OR AS AN APPRENTICE IN
PHARMACY
In order to maintain due standards in the profession, the privileges of the profession of pharmacy
are only restricted to persons having proper scientific and professional knowledge. For this reason,
registration of pharmacists is necessary. Such registration not only restricts the persons entering the
profession but also provides them various privileges and makes them aware of their duties and
responsibilities.
The following persons shall be qualified for registration as a pharmacist under this ordinance, namely_
- a. Persons who hold a degree in pharmacy conferred by a university or an institution affiliated thereto,
where the degree is recognized by the council (pharmacy council of Bangladesh).

- b. Persons who hold a diploma in pharmacy recognized by the council.
- c. Persons who pass the examination in pharmacy held or approved by the council.
Provide that during the period of two years from the coming into force of this Ordinance, the following
persons shall also be deemed to be qualified for registration, namely;
- i. Graduates in pharmacy from a university or an institution affiliated thereto.
- ii. Graduates in science from a university or an institution affiliated thereto, with chemistry or
pharmaceutical chemistry or pharmacology or microbiology as the principal subject, who are engaged for
at least two years in the manufacture or test and analysis of drugs and medicines in any drug manufacturing
concern licensed under the Druc Act, 1940 (XXIII of 1940), or in any Government institution or
laboratory.
Cont…
- iii. Inspectors of drugs appointed under Drugs Act, 1940 (XXIII of 1940), and Government Analysts so
appointed.
- iv. Teachers in any subject related to pharmacy in any institution conducting courses of study in
pharmacy.
- v. Persons who hold diploma in pharmacy recognized for registration under the Pharmacy Act, 1976.
- vi. Persons who had been approved by the licensing authority on or before the 30th November, 1974, as
“qualified persons” within the meaning of rule 24 of the Drugs Rules, 1946.
- vii. Persons engaged in compounding or dispensing medicine in a Government Hospital; and,
- viii. Persons qualified as compounders and dispensers of medicine by a Government Hospital.
Cont…
No person shall be qualified for registration as a pharmacist or as an apprentice in pharmacy-
- (a) if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a court ; or
- (b) if he has been convicted by a court of any offence which in the opinion of the Council involves
moral turpitude.
PROHIBITION OF PRACTICE WITHOUT REGISTRATION
- (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), no person shall, after the expiry of two years from the
coming into force of this Ordinance, or such later date as the Government may, by notification in the
official Gazette, specify in this behalf, practice as a pharmacist unless he is a registered pharmacist and
displays his certificate of registration in a conspicuous place within the premises in which he so practises.
- (2) Whoever employs any pharmacist for the purpose of any business in pharmacy shall cause (amended
for ‘cease’) the certificate of registration of the pharmacist so employed to be displayed in a conspicuous
place within the premises in which such business is carried on.
Cont…
- (3) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section

(1) or sub-section
(2) shall be punishable, on first conviction, with fine which may extend to Taka five hundred, and, on
each subsequent conviction with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with
fine which may extend to Taka five hundred, or with both.
- (4) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to—
Cont…
- (c) a person who manufactures, sells or distributes drugs and medicines which fall exclusively under
the unani, ayurvedic, bio-chemic or homeopathic system of medicine;
- (d) a person engaged as a health or veterinary technician in a Government Hospital or institution ; and
- (e) a foreign pharmacist who is engaged, with the approval of the Council, for the purposes of
consultation, advice or instruction.
Cont…
- (a) a registered medical practitioner as defined in the Medical Council Act, 1973 (XXX of 1973), or a
person authorised to prescribe antibiotic and dangerous drugs under the Allopathic System (Prevention
of Misuse) Ordinance, 1962 (LXV of 1962), who dispenses medicine to his own patients or serves his
own prescriptions;
- (b) a person who deals in non-poisonous household remedies in original and unopened container at any
store or place or prepares non-poisonous household remedies in accordance with the rules made under
the Drugs Act, 1940 (XXIII of 1940);
DEFINITION OF PHARMACIST ACCORDING TO DRUG ORDINANCE 1976
According to this ordinance “pharmacist” means a person who, for a fee, salary or other
consideration paid to him or to another person on his behalf, manufactures, prepares, distributes, sells, or
serves any prescription for, any medicine, drug or pharmaceutical preparation.
DRUG CONTROL ORDINANCE1982
- To control the manufacturer, import, distribution and sales of drugs the Government of People Republic
of Bangladesh have published an ordinance on 12th June 1982 which is known as ‘Drug Control
Ordinance 1982’.
Cont…
Before this ordinance the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of drugs were regulated by drug act
1940. But when Drug Control Ordinance 1982 came into force, a number of pharmaceutical products
harmful for health were banned. Examples of such products include,
- i. Liquid vitamin B complex
- ii. Narcotic cough syrup
- iii. Phencidil
- iv. Blood alkalizer

- v. Gripe water
- vi. Various types of ointments
- vii. Liquid enzymes
- viii. Other items containing higher percentage of alcohol
Brief description of Drug Control Ordinance 1982
- 4. Drug Control Committee
- (1) The Government shall constitute a Drug Control Committee consisting of a Chairman and such
other members as it may appoint from time to time.
- (2) The Committee shall perform such functions as are specified in this Ordinance. Cont…
- 5. Registration of Medicines.
- (1) No medicine of any kind shall be manufactured for Nsale or be imported, distributed or sold
unless it is registered with the licencing authority.
- (2) The licencing authority shall not register a medicine unless such registration is recommended by
the Committee.
- (3) A registration shall be granted on such conditions as may be specified by the licencing authority.
- (4) A registration shall, unless cancelled earlier, be valid for a period of five years.
- 6. Cancellation or suspension of registration.
- (1) The licencing authority may cancel the registration of any medicine if the Committee recommends
such cancellation.
- (2) The Committee shall evaluate every medicine registered before the commencement of this
Ordinance and every medicine that may be manufactured or imported after such commencement in order
to determine its safety, efficacy and usefulness.
- (3) If on such evaluation the Committee finds that any such medicine is not sale, efficacious or useful it
may recommend to the licensing authority cancellation of registration of the medicine.
- (4) The licensing authority may, if it is satisfied that a medicine is substandard, suspend the registration
of such medicine till he is satisfied that the medicine has attained its standard.
Cont.…
- 7. Fees for registration.
- No registration of a medicine shall be granted unless a fee to be determined by the Government is paid
at the time of application for registration.
8. Prohibition of Manufacture, etc, of certain medicines.
(1) On the commencement of this Ordinance, the registration or license in respect of all medicines
mentioned in the Schedules shall stand cancelled, and no such medicine shall, subject to the provisions of
sub-section (2), be manufactured, imported, distributed or sold after such commencement.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), —

(a) the medicines specified in Schedule I shall be destroyed within three months from the date of
commencement of this Ordinance; Continuation of section (8)
- (b) the medicines specified in Schedule II may be manufactured or sold for a period of six months from
the date of commencement of this Ordinance and thereafter their manufacture and sale shall be
permitted only if they are registered alter change in their formulation in accordance with the direction of
the licensing authority;
- (c) the medicines specified in Schedule III may be manufactured, imported, distributed and sold for a
period of nine months after the commencement of this Ordinance, and thereafter there shal not be any
manufacture, import, distribution or sale of such medicines.
Cont.…
- 9. Restriction on import of certain pharmaceutical raw material.
- (1) No pharmaceutical raw material necessary for the manufacture of any medicine specified in any of
the Schedules shall be imported.
- (2) No drug or pharmaceutical raw material shall be Imported except with the prior approval of the
licensing authority.
- (3) The licensing authority may award an approve al undersection
Cont…
- 10. Restriction on manufacture of certain drugs under licence.
- No drug shall, alter six months from the date of commencement of this Ordinance, be manufactured in
Bangladesh under licence granted by a foreign company having no manufacturing plant in Bangladesh if,
such drug or its substitute is produced in Bangladesh.
Cont…
- 11. Fixation of price of drugs.
- (1) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, fix the maximum price at which any
medicine may be sold.
- (2) The Government may by notification in the official Gazette, fix the maximum price at which any
pharmaceutical raw material may be imported or sold.
Cont…
- 13. Employment of pharmacists.
- (i) No person shall manufacture any drug except under the personal supervision of a pharmacist

registered in Register 'A' of the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh:
- Provided that this provision shall not apply to the manufacture of any drug under the ayurvedic, unani,
or homeopathic or biochemic system of medicine.
- (2) No person, being a retailer, shall sell any drug without the personal supervision of a pharmacist
registered in any Register of the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh:
- Provided that this provision shall not apply to the retail sale of any drug under the ayurvedic, unani, or
homeopathic or biochemic system of medicine.
Cont…
- 15. Good practices in the manufacturer and qualitycontrol of drugs.
- (1) Every manufacturer of drugs shall follow the good practices in the manufacture and quality control
of drugs recommended by the World Health Organization.
- (2) If any manufacturer does not follow such good practices his manufactured licence may be cancelled
or suspended.
Cont…
- 16. Penalty for manufacture, etc., of certain drugs.
- Whoever manufactures, imports, distributes or sells—
- (a) any medicine which is not registered under this Ordinance, or
- (b) any medicine in contravention of the provisions of section 8, or
- (c) any drug which is adulterated or spurious.
- shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine
which may extend to two lac taka, or with both, and any implements used in the manufacture or sale of
such medicine Nor drug may, by order of the Drug Court, be forfeited to the Government.
Cont…
- 17. Penalty for manufacture or sale of sub-standard drugs.
- Whoever manufactures or sells any sub-standard drug shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment
for a term which may extend to live years, or with fine which may extend to one lac taka, or with both.
Cont…
- 18. Penalty for un-authorised import of drugs.
- Whoever imports any drug or pharmaceutical raw material without the prior approval of the licencing
authority shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or

with fine which may extend to fifty thousand takas, or with both and such drug or raw material may be
order of the Drug Court, be forfeited to the Government.
Cont…
- 19. Penalty for sale of medicine or import or sale of pharmaceutical raw material at a higher
price.
- Whoever sells any medicine or imports or sells any pharmaceutical raw material
- at a price higher than the maximum price fixed by the Government under section 11 shall be punishable
with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which any extend to
ten thousand taka, or with both.
Cont…
- 20. Penalty for theft, etc., of Government drugs.
- Whoever commits theft in respect of any drug in any Government store, hospital, clinic or health centre
or sells any such drug or keeps in his possession any such drug for sale shall be punishable with rigorous
imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine which may extend to two lac taka or
with both.
Cont…
- 21. Penalty for illegal advertisement and claims.
- Whoever contravenes the provision of section 14 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to
twenty-five thousand takas.
Cont…
- 23. Drug Courts.
- (1) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette establish as many Drug Courts as it
considers necessary and where it establishes more than one Drug Court shall specify in the notification
the territorial limits within which each one of them shall exercise jurisdiction under this Ordinance.
- (2) A Drug Court shall consist of a person who is or has been a Sessions Judge and he shall be
appointed by the Government.
- (3) A Drug Court shall sit at such place as the Government may direct.
Cont…

- (4) A Drug Court may pass any sentence authorized by this Ordinance and shall have all the powers
conferred by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898), on a Court of Session exercising original
jurisdiction.
- (5) A Drug Court shall not, merely by reason of a change in its composition, be bound to recall and
rehear any witness who has given evidence, and may act on the evidence already recorded by or produced
before it.
Cont…
- (6) A Drug Court shall, in all matters with respect to which no procedure has been prescribed by this
Ordinance, follow the procedure prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898). for
the trial of summons cases by Magistrates.
- (7) A. Drug Court may, on application in ill is behalf being made by the prosecution.try an offence under
this Ordinance summarilyin accordance win the provisions contained in sections 262 to 265 ol the Code
of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898).
- (8) An appeal from the judgement of a Drug Court shall lie to the High Court Division.
Cont…
- 24. National Drug Advisory Council,
- (1) The Government shall constitute a National Drug Advisory Council consisting of a Chairman and
such oilier members as it may appoint from time to time.
- (2) The Council shall advise the Government on—
- (a) measures to be adopted for the implementation of the national drug policy that may be adopted by
the Government from time to time;
- (b) measures for the promotion of local pharmaceutical industries an production and supply of essential
drugs for meeting the needs of the country.
- (c) matters relating to the import of drugs and pharmaceutical raw materials.
- (d) measures for the co-ordination of the activities of the various Ministries, agencies and persons
dealing with manufacture, import, distribution and sale of drugs.
Cont…
- 25. Power to make rules.
- The Government may, be notification in the official Gazette, make ules for carrying out the purposes
of this Ordinance.

SOME MILESTONES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AYURVEDA
 Divine origin of Ayurveda from Lord Brahma –Dates back to origin of human race
 Mention of various references on health,Desiases and Medicinal plants in Rig Veda- 500 BC
 Origin of Attreya Dhanwantary School of Ayurveda- 1000 BC
 Documentation of Charaka Samhita-600 BC
 Documentation of Sushruta Samhita- 500 BC
 Advent of Muslim Rulers and start of the Decline of – Ayurveda 1100 -1800 AD
 Ressurrection of Ayurvedic system of Medicine under the rule of Peshwas -1800 AD
 Classes in Ayurvedic medicine opened in Government Sanskrit College, Calcutta -1827
 Discontinuation of classes in Government Sanskrit College by British -1833
THE SYMBOLS USED IN PHARMACY
A number of symbols,signs and badges are used worldwide to represent pharmacy.Among them a few
synbols are now particularly widespread in usage.A brief introduction on these symbols is highlighted
below –
 The Recipe (RX) sign
One of the symbols that links pharmacy practice to ancient mythology and which appears on every
prescription, is the curious inscription RX. It can take many forms, but they all basically have the same
intent. The most popular interpretation is that it could have derived from the ancient Egyptian eye symbol,
the eye of HORUS, the falcon God of lower Egypt who torn out his eyes in a dispute. It is the abbreviation
for the Latin verb ‘recipere’ which means ‘take.
 The bowl of Hygeia and the serpent

For pharmacy, the symbol is the bowl of Hygeia and the serpent reaching uo to it. It was originally
used in religious ceremonies of ancient Greece and Rome as offerings to the goddess of health.
 Serpent on the staff of Asklepius
It is represented as one snake on a staff.Asklepius,the Greek god of medicine,is usually depicted
carrying a staff with a snake coiled around it.The snake was a symbol of wisdom,immortality .
 Lamp
The pictorial representation for nursing is a lamp.
 Morter and Pestle
The morter and pestle has long been used as a pharmaceutical symbol and is recognized as tolls of
traditional pharmacy in indian subcontinent.

 How has the name “Pharmacist” coined?
In early agespersons who practicedmedicines,prepared them &sold them,thy were termed Chemists or
Chymists.they were also called Druggists and Dispensers.the most modern description of the art of
compounding drugs isthat of a Pharmacist.Now-a-days the pharmacist are known as health professional.
COMPENDIUM OR ANTIDOTARIUM
Compendia may be of two types:
 Official Compendia: These are the books which contain list of drugs & other related substances
with their legal standard of purity,quality & strength approved by the government of the respective
countries.
Example: BP, USP, BPC, BDNF, JP etc.
 Non-official Compendia: These are the books which contain the same type of information as that
of official compendia but are not recognized by the government.
Example: Merck Index, Remington’s Pharmaceutical Sciences etc.
PHARMACOPEIA
Pharmacopeia is an authoritative book containing a list of medicinal agents with their sources, uses,
preparation, formulas etc.The word Pharmacopeia is derived from the greek word ‘Pharmakon’ means a
drug and ‘Poieo’ means I make.
Example:
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CODEX (BPC):
Another book that was more useful to the dispenser was the BPC. It was first published in 1907.
It was published by the council of Pharmaceutical society.
BP, IP, USP, EP etc.
To supplement the Pharmacopeia with a more comprehensive formulary or codex.
The British Pharmacopeia (BP):
BP is the authoritative collection of standards for medicines in the UK. It provides essential information
for all those concerned with the quality of medicines & its standards are legally enforceable in the UK. It
was first published in 1864.

HOSPITAL PHARMACOPEIA
The compilation of a Pharmacopeia by the physician & the pharmacists of a hospital proved a great
convenience to the many resident and consulting physicians treating patients there.
UNITED SATES PHARMACOPEIA (USP):
USP is the official Pharmacopeia of the US and published with the National Formulary as the USP-
NF. The USP Convention is the non-prfit organization that owns the trademark & copyright to the USP-
NF & publishes it every year. The USP founded in 1820.
FORMULARY
Formulary is the official book of drugs and other medical substances recognized by the government of the
respective country of origin.
Example: BNF, USNF, BDNF, NF.
BRITISH NATIONAL FORMULARY (BNF):
The BNF is a medical & pharmaceutical reference book since 1948. The BNF is a joint publication
of the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical society of Great Britain. The BNF
provides the prescribers, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals with sound up-to-date
information about the use of medicines.
(BDNF)BANGLADESH NATIONAL FORMULARY
BDNF was first published by the Directorate of Drug Administration. It is an official book of
drugs and related items used in Bangladesh. It contains key information of drugs such as names,
indications, side effects, cautions, dose, warnings, strength etc.
BANGLADESH PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY
In Bangladesh, the BPS is the national professional body of pharmacists engaged in various facets
of the profession of pharmacy. The BPS is committed to promote the highest professional and ethical
standards of pharmacy. BPS has been actively promoting the cause of pharmacy profession since its
inception. BPS works very closely with the Parmacy council, Ministry of Health & many drug companies
to conduct Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) activities. It is to the benefit of all pharmacists to be a
member of BPS.
FACE OF PHARMACY IN THE 20TH CENTURY
Alexander Fleming & invention of first antibiotic ‘Penicillin’

 Edward Zenner, Vaccinations and NID
 World War II and Mass Production of Antibiotics
 Population Control by Contraceptives
 Anticancer Drugs
 Pain & Analgesic
 Cardiovascular agents
 Life style diseases- Hypertension and Diabetes
 Mental health drugs
HISTORY OF PHARMACY
“The history of pharmacy... is a curious and interesting study, even to the non-professional
inquirer. The records of the past are full of teaching to those who consult them earnestly.”-William Procter,
Jr. ‘Father of American Pharmacy’.
Pharmacy has a long history. Fossils from plants with medicinal properties have been found,
indicating that early man used these plants as drugs. The earliest historical record for the preparation of
drugs comes from Babyloina, circa 2600 BC. Clay tablets were inscribed with the description of an illness,
a formula for the preparation of the remedy, and an incantation to impart or enhance the healing quality
of the medication.
MEDICAL PRACTICES OF ANCIENT PEOPLE.
It is difficult to know of the medical ideas and practices of prehistoric man. The primitive peoples
were in the grasp of the forces of nature, such as wind, lightning, thunder, storm, rain, hail and snow. They
were more in fear of diseases and looked upon them as evil forces or forms of holistic magic. Primitive
practices of medicine were also associated with religious beliefs. Where there was a magic, there were
magician, scorer to perform magical trick to relieve their suffering patients. The magicians, whether, god,
hero, priest, king, prophet or physician were the medicine makers. However, through magic and religious
beliefs, peoples of all ages acquired useful and sound medical information.
 Babylonians medicines: For the Babylonians, medical care was care was provided by two classes
of practitioners: the asipu (magical healer) and the asu (empirical healer):
i. The asipu relied more heavily on spells and used magical stones far more than plant
materials.
ii. The asu drew upon a large collection of drugs and manipulated them into several dosage
form that are still basic today, such as suppositories, pills, washes, enemas and oinments.
 Civilization of Greece
During Greek Civilization there was a mixed concept called Pharmakon, a word that
meant magic spell remedy or poision. Some people beset with persistent afflictions traveled to a temple

of the God Asklepios where they would sleep with the hope of being visited during the night by the God
or his daughter Hygeia, who carried a magical serpent and a bowl of healing medicine. Hippocratic writers
accomplished a conceptual link between the environment and humanity by connecting the four elements
of earth; air, fire and water to four governing humours of the body: black bile, blood, yellow bile and
phlegm. The trained Greek physician who followed the Hippocratic method favoured dietry and life style
adjustment over drug use. Most Greek medicines were prepared from plants and the first great study of
plants in the west was accomplished by Theophrastus (ca 370-285BCE), a student of Aristotle. The latter
Greek physician summery of the drug, the materia medica, became the standard encylopedia of drugs for
hundreds of years to follow.
Through the teachings and writings of Galen, a Greek physician who practiced in Rome in 2nd
century AD, the immune system of medicine gained ascendancy for the next 1500 years.
 Arabian Pharmacy and Medicine
The pharmacy and medicine that the Arab preserved and developed were a curious blend
of Greek medicine derived from the Nestorian Christians, Jewish medical practices, astrology and
the occultism of Egypt and India. Arabian medical culture lasted from the 8th to 12th century. It
was dominated by Greek thoughts in the earlier centuries but later developed some independence.
The Arabian medical scholars inherited the best that Egypt, Greek, and Rome had left. Many
hospitals were built and kept up by the Arabs. One of the best of these was founded at Damascus
(1160) and another at Cairo (1276). In the 8th century Arabian pharmacy and medicine became
separate branches of learning and practice. The separation was made compulsory by law in the 11th
century. Arabian pharmacists imported drugs such as senna, camphor, rhubarb, musk, cloves,
aconite and mercury from many sources. Arabian apothecary shops were regularly inspected and
severe punishment meted out to those who spurious drugs.
PHARMACY & MEDICINE IN MIDDLE (130-1400AD)
The middle ages which is also known as ‘Dark Ages' are thousand years extending from the time
of Galen to the Renaissance in Europe. Galen revived the clinical common senses of Hippocrates.
Everything that Hippocrates and his followers gave to the science, especially medicine, was stagnated
during the dark ages. Although the light of Greek medicine faded during this period, it was never entirely
extinguished. At that time clergy became the custodian of the medical knowledge. This has been referred
to Monk Medicine. The Benedictine order of monks taught that the care of the sick was Christian duty.
There was a medical school, now a city of Italy. Greek medical teaching was translated at Salerno. During
the first crusade on 1096, it was used as a base hospital for militant Christians. Napoleon abolished this
medical school in 1811.
The Magna Charta of the profession of pharmacy was issued in 1240, when Frederick, head of the holy
Roman Empire, issued an edict creating pharmacy as an independent branch of public welfare service.

Later there were two additional regulations. These regulations separated the practice of pharmacy from
that of medicine and acknowledged “the fact that the practice of pharmacy required special knowledge,
skill, initiative and responsibility in order to guarantee adequate care of the medicinal needs of the people”.
Furthermore, official supervision was given to the pharmaceutical practices and the use of prescribed
formulary was made compulsory. The two sections of law were not accepted are:
1) The limitations of the number of pharmacies
2) The fixing of practice of drugs by the government.
The latter law is operable in Bangladesh and many countries of the world. With these regulations,
pharmacy became a profession and its practiced was placed on a higher ethical plane
PRECURSORS OF RENAISSANCE
In Western Europe medicine was in the hand of church or clergy and education was at its lowest
ebb during this period. There were many factors that slowed the progress of medicine and pharmacy. It
was an age of faith healing. Superstitious practices were vogue and lots of absurd objects were worn as
charms, talismans, and amulets in an effort to ward off diseases. Medieval physicians studied horoscope
of their patients to aid in diagnosis and prognosis, as blood counts and X- rays used today. In England, in
1042 Edward the Confessor instituted the “royal touch” which was credited with power of healing
diseases. However, three important persons revolted against the domination of church in medicine and to
the philosophy and mysticism of the Dark Ages. They were Roger Bacon (1214-1294), Arnald of
Villanova (1240-1311) and Petrarch (1304-1374).
MODERN AGES (1453-present)
The Renaissance: The Renaissance, was the beginning of the modern period. In 1453
Constantinople fell to conquering Turks, and the remnants of the Greek scholary community three fled
wests, carrying their books and knowledge with them. About that same time, Johan Gutenbarg began
printing with movable type, starting an information revolution. The time was ripe for casting off the old
concepts of diseases and drugs of Galen. The new drugs that were arriving from far off lands were
unknown to the ancients. Printers, after fulfilling the demand for religious books such as bibles and
hymnais, turned to producing medical and pharmaceutical works especially those that could benefit from
profuse and detailed illustrations.
The three great medical leaders of this era were Paracelsus, Vesalius, and Pare.
i. Paracelsus (1493-1541): A Swiss alchemist and physician publicly burned the
works of Galen because he thought that they lacked the authority. He was the
founder of chemotherapy and taught the use of sulfur, lead, mercury, antimony, iron
and other metals in therapeutics. Paracelsus believed that peoples are attacked by

the diseases due to natural causes and advocated the return to the teachings of
Hippocrates.
ii. Anderas Vesalius (1514-1564): He studied medicine in Paris, concentrating on
anatomy and discovers the errors in the teachings of Galen. Later he taught surgery
and anatomy at Padua and in 1543, against the advice of friends, published his
findings in which he pointed out the errors of Galen. This brought him much glory
as well as protests sufficient to leave Padua. He then spent as court physician to
Charles V and Philip. His work had a profound influence on the progress of surgery
and medicine.
iii. Pare (1517- 1590) was a French barber- surgeon. He practiced as a surgeon in
French Army and has the opportunity to learn much about anatomy and surgery.
His pleasing personality and genius for surgery brought him great honor. Many of
the surgical practices of today originated with Pare.
It is a bit ironic that from the mid-1600s to the mid--1800, when controversy raged within medicine
becoming family established as profession on the European continent. Since most drugs before 1900 were
derived from the plant kingdom, it is not surprising that pharmacists dominated the investigation of
botanical drugs during the 1700s and 1800s.The single most important breakthrough occurred during the
first decade of the 19th century when the pharmacist Friedrich Sertumer extracted morphine from crude
opium. The announcement of his method opened up the era of alkaloidal chemistry, which resulted in the
isolation of several pure drugs from crude preparations.
Development of pharmacy in Italy: In the 14th century the number of apothecaries and wholesalers of
drugs and spiced was large. The shops were inspected at least once in a year and persons found guilty of
selling substandard drugs were punished by being deprived of their right to practice the profession for a
period of a time. In Italy pharmacy and the profession of the apothecary were held in high esteem previous
to, during and following the Middle Ages and Renaissance. This has continued to the present time. In the
Italian Army today pharmacists hold commissions. A statute of the 16th century stated that an apothecary
was required to serve as an apprentice for five years and as a clerk for three more years and then to pass
an examination before being permitted to operate a shop of his own. Italy should be credited for many
advances in European pharmacy. The “Ricettario Fiorentino” the first pharmacopeia of Europe made it
appearance in 1498. It was compiled by physicians with the help of pharmacists and was made official in
Florence. The first Italian pharmacopeia was published in 1892.
PHARMACY IN ENGLAND
During late fourteenth century there were three groups interested in drugs viz-physicians,
apothecaries and drug merchants. Due to dissension among them, another group emerged and that of the
pharmacists. Prior to 1511 anyone could practice medicine in England and after enactment of first Medical
act in 1511, only the competent practitioners could practice medicine. These accredited physicians

founded the College of physicians in1518 and assumed the right to inspect the shops of the apothecaries,
with the power to destroy drugs and preparations that were considered inferior or adulterated. In 1721 the
apothecaries were granted the right to practice medicine.
During the sixteenth century there were many disputes among the physicians, apothecaries,
chemist and druggists. In this perspective the Pharmaceuticals society of Great Britain was formed in 1841
with provision for education and examination of chemist and druggist who sought to practice pharmacy.
The pharmacy Act of 1933 was called the Magna Carta of British Pharmacy.
The first British Pharmacopeia (BP) appeared in1864 as supplement to it British Pharmaceutical Codex
(BPC), Extra Pharmacopeia and British National formulary (BNF) were published.
AMERICAN PHARMACY
Back in the 1760s, in his famous Discourse on medical education, Dr John Morgan, had advocated
the separation of medicine and pharmacy with physicians and writing prescriptions. The years following
the war of 1812 were transitional. More and more physicians gained their clinical experience in hospitals
and dispensaries instead of preceptors, learning to write prescription, rather than compound them.
After graduation some of these young physicians continued to write out prescriptions, thereby
stimulating the growth of pharmacy. In 1808 the Massachusetts Medical society published a state guide
to drug standards, with a national convention of physicians approving a pharmacopeia of the United States
of America (USP) in 1820.The appearance of these books both the growing amount of prescription writing
and the medical profession’s increasing reliance on pharmacists.
The number of pharmacy practitioners in urban areas reached the critical mass necessary for the
establishment of local pharmaceutical societies such as the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (1821) and
the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy.

Everything You Need to Know About Pharmacy Careers and Education

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Everything You Need to Know About Pharmacy Careers and Education