Pharmacy Profession in Bangladesh: Future Prospects and Challenges

Dr. Md. Moklesur Rahman Sarker M. Pharm., Ph. D. (Japan)

BACKGROUND

Pharmacy is a multi-disciplinary subject composed of all aspects of drugs including its manufacturing, synthesis, quality control and quality assurance, marketing, handling, safety matters, patients care, invention, and public awareness for the rational utilization of drugs, etc. At present 6 public and 22 private universities provide Pharmacy education in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi universities offer 4 years B. Pharm. and 1 year M. Pharm. degrees. Few universities are going to introduce 5 years Pharmacy course termed as Pharm. D. degree in order to cope with the international job requirement as well as to comply with international Pharmacy education level. An estimated data resulted that at present 1260 Pharmacy graduates are coming out from private and 200 from public universities per year. The number of graduate Pharmacists from private and public universities is increasing day by day and the present figure will greatly increase in near future with the inauguration of Pharmacy education in the private universities where Pharmacy department has not yet been opened. The enhanced number of out coming graduate Pharmacists demands the need for opening the new job arenas in Bangladesh, as many prospective fields of Pharmacy profession have not yet been introduced in our country.

PRESENT EMPLOYMENT OF PHARMACISTS

Job scope of Pharmacists

0 50 10

Pharma industries

Pharma marketing

Teaching in universities

esearch organization

Higher educationabroad

Jobs in abroad

O thers

R

Pharmaceutical industries (Fin

OVERALL JOB SCOPES OF

Manufacturing industries): In P(PD), cGMP Training, Warehous

Pharmaceutical Marketing: PrPromotion/Medical Promotion, Cl

Drug Regulatory Affairs

Hospital Pharmacy (Govt. and P

Academic positions (govt. and p

Pharmacy Council of Banglade

Drug Administration (Directora

Drug Testing Laboratories (Dh

Total graduation/year = 1460 (Approx.)Total employment/year = 980 (Approx.)

0 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550

Number of employed Pharmacists

ished medicines, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/APIs, and Excipients

PHARMACISTS

roduction, Quality Control (QC), Quality Assurance (QA), Product Development e, Drug Research and Invention, and Technical Services Department (TSD).

oduct Management Department (PMD), Medical Services Department (MSD), Sales inical Services, Training for field forces, and International Marketing (IM) departments.

rivate Hospitals)* rivate universities) sh te General of Drug Administration of Bangladesh) aka and Chittagong)

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H uge opportunities in abroad (jobs, research, and teaching)

Community Pharmacy*

linical Pharmacy* C

Retail & Chain Pharmacy*

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]

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PRESENT JOB SCOPES

Private Hospitals

Pharmaceutical Marketing

PharmaceuticalIndustry

Academic positions in the universities

Regulatory Affairs

Research & Jobopportunities

in abroad

PPrreesseenntt JJoobbss

Drug Administration

Drug Testing Laboratories

FUTURE PROSPECTS WITH NEW EXCITING JOB AREAS

Community Pharmacy

Retail and

Chain Pharmacy

Pharma Sales

Promotion

API and Excipients’

based plants

Ayurvedic, Unani and

Herbal industries for better drugs

Chemical and

cosmetic industries

Food industries

New Drug Research in

Pharma companies and other institutes

Clinical Pharmacy

Hospital

Pharmacy

Pharmacists all over the world are working in almost all the areas presented in the above diagram. Unfortunately, none of the above areas has not yet opened in our country. Introduction of some of the above areas may create huge job opportunity for graduate Pharmacists in near future.

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 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.

J obs 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 opportunites 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.

RECOMMENDATIONS / STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN

Introduction of Hospital Pharmacy – The sooner the better for the betterment of public health:

Government gazetted officers have been employed from Physicians (as Medical Officers), Engineers, Agriculturists (Agriculture Officers), Veterinary doctors, Graduates from Fisheries (Fisheries Officers), Statistics, etc. in every upazila, district and divisional levels. But it’s a matter of great regret that, till now, no Pharmacist has been employed as a gazetted officer in any upazila or district or divisional levels in the hospitals by the govt. although involvement of graduate Pharmacists in Govt. Health Complex is very essential for the proper handling, dispensing, storage and management of drugs. The government of Bangladesh should take an immediate step for the employment of registered Pharmacists in primary healthcare level (upazila health complex), secondary healthcare level (district health complex), and tertiary healthcare level (divisional health complex) for the rational utilization and better health management of country’s people. Thus the employment of 600 Pharmacists may be provided soon and the quality of drug management in the govt. hospitals may be ensured. Appointment of Pharmacists in every Upazila as Drug Super and Drug Inspector:

Directorate General of Drug Administration of Bangladesh has great lack of manpower for the monitoring of drug production in large numbers of Allopathic, Ayurvedic, and Unani medicines manufacturing industries and numerous pharmacies distributed all over the country. According to the information of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) of Bangladesh website, DGDA has offices of Drug Superintendent only in 34 districts (out of 64 districts) all over the country. The Drug Administration does not have Drug Superintendent even in every district let alone every Upazila. It is impossible to control the production and marketing of drugs with this less manpower all over the country. As a result, Drug Administration does not have strict controlling power on pharmaceutical industries and retail and wholesale pharmacies. Yet it’s a matter of hope that the present Govt. has taken initiative recently and DGDA is on the process for the recruitment of Drug Supers and Drug Inspectors. According to the available information, the Govt. is not going to appoint Drug Super in any Upazila. Without Drug Super in Upazila level, it would not be possible to control the drugs strictly. Therefore, the govt. should take immediate steps to appoint graduate Pharmacists to rest of the districts (30 districts), and one Pharmacist as Drug superintendent as well as two Pharmacists as Drug Inspectors in each of 483 Upazilas all over the country for better control and rational utilization of drugs. Emphasis should be given on Community Pharmacy practice:

India has 5 Lacs (out of 6 Lacs) Pharmacists who are working in the Community Pharmacies; whereas a single Pharmacist is not working as Community Pharmacist in our country. So, we have a great scope to work as Community Pharmacists in Bangladesh. Thus, it is highly recommended here that the Govt. should create the environment and facilities for the Pharmacists in this respect.

Pharmacists should work as Drug Promoters:

In many countries of the developed world (such as, Japan, USA, Canada, etc.), Pharmacists are working as Medical Representatives/Sales team with highly paid salary for the promotion of drugs to the physicians. Our Pharmacists consider this job as a prestigious issue and they don’t have interest to engage themselves for such kind of jobs. Considering the present job crisis of Pharmacists in Bangladesh as well as considering the world scenario, Bangladeshi Pharmacists should engulf these job areas omitting the traditional job trend in our country. They can enjoy this job opportunity as they are best suited for those positions than the professionals working from any other disciplines. Introduction of 5-6 years Pharm D course:

In order to comply with the international standard of Pharmacy education, every university should offer 5-6 years Pharm D degree along with B. Pharm. (Hons.) degree.

Modification in the Pharmacy Course Curriculum:

Pharmacy course should be redesigned/revised by giving emphasis on professional application based Pharmacy education such as, Pharmaceutical Marketing, Pharmaceutical Care, Drug Information, Adverse Drug Reactions, Hospital Pharmacy Practice, Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Retail Pharmacy Practice, Drug Control and Monitoring, Rational Use of Drugs, Manufacturing and Synthesis of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients & Excipients, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Recombinant DNA Technology and Genetic Engineering, in association with Industrial Pharmacy and Pharmacology. The innovative pharmaceutical researches should also be emphasized. The present curriculum is not suitable to acquire

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adequate knowledge for the practice of Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical Care, Hospital Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy practice, Rational Utilization of Drugs, Manufacturing of APIs, and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.

Internship program of B. Pharm. (Hons.) students should be at least for 6 months:

In order to acquire proper practical knowledge in the respective field, the internship training program should be for at least 6 months which may include training in pharma industries, hospitals, retail pharmacy, diagnostic centers, pharmaceutical marketing, etc. depending on the interest and specialization of the intended graduates. Qualifying examination for the issuance of professional registration by the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh:

The Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh has recently revoked the examination system for the evaluation of graduate pharmacists for the issuance of Registration for Pharmacy practice. By dint of revoking examination, Pharmacy graduates from any public or private university would be awarded professional registration without any qualifying examination. To a new Pharmacy graduate this option may be seemed to be happy news because they don’t need to sit for any examination and they can get the certification for Pharmacy practice without any qualifying test. But practically this option may lead Pharmacy profession to challenge in the long run. The number of graduate Pharmacists coming out from private universities is 6 times greater than that of public universities. Recently, many intellectuals raised questions about the educational status and quality of some of the private universities although most of the private universities are doing pretty well. Whatever the private or public universities, the examination systems is maintained in all the developed countries like USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc. on order to obtain the registration for pharmacy practice. So, what is the problem in our case? If the pre-qualifying examination is maintained, this will surely ensure the quality of Pharmacists suited for the practice of Pharmacy profession in Bangladesh. The examination system would enhance the ability of any graduate Pharmacist whether from private or public universities. At least they may learn/study many aspects of Pharmacy profession if they have to prepare for qualifying examination,that will help them to practice their profession. Therefore, at least a minimum evaluation test (that would ensure the basic and minimum knowledge of Pharmacy) must be conducted by the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh before issuing professional registration for the practice of Pharmacy in Bangladesh. Obtaining registration after passing pre –qualifying evaluation will carry the dignity of graduate Pharmacists in their profession; otherwise registration will not have any evaluation in practical job markets.

Active role of BPS and PGA can make the future prospects of Pharmacists come in true:

Hospital Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy, Community Pharmacy and Retail Pharmacy practices have not yet been introduced in our country, where a great number of Pharmacists may be engaged to mitigate the unemployment problem of forthcoming Pharmacists. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Society (BPS) and Pharmacy Graduates Association (PGA) can play a vital role to establish the job scopes of Pharmacists by upholding its necessity to the proper authority.

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CONCLUSION

harmacy is a very important profession, which deals with the manufacturing, handing, proper utilization, dispensing, and dministration of life saving drugs. Thus, the role of Pharmacists will never be ended as long as drugs will exist in this orld. At the same time, as Pharmacists deal with life-saving drugs, the safety of patients or its ultimate user are mostly epend of the knowledge, proper handling, drug manufacturing, sincerity, and quality of a Pharmacist. Although the aditional jobs of Pharmacists in Bangladesh have saturated, many prospective jobs are still beckoning to open in our ountry. So, the future of Pharmacy profession is challenging and charming as well. The future Pharmacists of angladesh should prepare themselves and be capable enough to catch the next job opportunities that may be explored in ur country. The Pharmaceutical Society and the Pharmacy Graduates’ Association have to play vital role for the xpansion of job opportunities for the future Pharmacists. Our govt. should open the job scopes of Pharmacists for the afe and rational utilization drugs and for the better health management of country people.

REFERENCES

. Azad AK. Pharmacy Education in Bangladesh: Past, Present and Future, BAPA Convention, New York, August 8-9, 2008.

. Directorate General of Drug Administration of Bangladesh, web: http://www.ddabd.org/contacts.htm, accessed on 01-06-2011.

he writer is Sr. Lecturer, Dept. of Pharmacy, Daffodil International University and can be reached at E-mail: r.mokles@daffodilvarsity.edu.bd

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