Introduction

Pharmacy is a science-based health profession concerned with the science of medicines and their use in the treatment and prevention of disease. It encompasses the aspects related to medicine discovery, development, production, distribution, dispensing, testing, research etc., and while linking the health sciences with the chemical sciences it is responsible for ensuring the safe and effective use of medicines. Recognized as Custodians of medicines the Pharmacists are specialists in the science and clinical use of medicines. They are highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals who perform various roles to ensure optimal health outcomes for the patients.

Pharmacy Education

Continuous changes and advances occurring in the health care system, novel medicines’ discoveries and nature of drug therapy have also led to the development of new paradigms in pharmacy education and practice over the past decades. With specialization in the medical disciplines, the horizon of the role of pharmacy profession has also expanded to include more varied health care related functions.
The formal University education combined with the practical training within the local industries and other related institutions / organizations provide a base for the academic and professional development of the students. In an environment characterized by professionalism,  cooperation, civility, diversity, mentoring, nurturing and accountability, the academic curriculum for studies and the strongly committed faculty within the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences,  aim to train the students indoctrinated with the ability of leadership skills, competency, integrity, social responsibility, population based care management,  and commitment to maintaining professional competence and development throughout their careers. 

Career Options

To pursue the career of Pharmacy as a profession it opens up avenues in -

• Community and Retail Pharmacy
• Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy
• Trainers of other Health Workers
• Occupational Specialists, mainly Industrial Pharmacy engaged in drug / medicine manufacture, quality control, pharmaceutical technology and research
• Academicians, managers, and administrators of pharmaceutical services and systems
• Drug regulators and law enforcers
• Quality Assurance Managers
• Sales and Marketing Managers
• Drug procurement, utilization and supply managers
• Drug information consultants
• Drug research and development experts
• Clinical research
• Home care and Long term care facilities managers
• Promotional pharmacist and Pharmaceutical Marketing managers
• Nuclear pharmacist            

Biotechnology and Informatics

Some of the many sectors where there is a wide scope for biotechnologists and bioinformaticians are health care, environment, agriculture and food technology.  Biotechnology jobs Pakistan can be already seen regularly in Pakistan national dailies. Other areas, which can be considered for job creation, are;

• Industries (like Drug & Sugar industries in Pakistan)
• Database development
• Clinical work and its management
• Pharmaceutical areas
• Research methodology and tools designing
• Universities and Research Institutions

Emerging Scope/Fields in Bioinformatics with biotechnological background in Pakistan

• Nutritional informatics
• Functional Genomics
• Computational System Biology
• Semantic Web
• Nanotechnology
• Software development (genomic analysis, educational & online materials, data storage,
• image analysis, automation of data gatherings etc)
• Databases (of Plant & animal varieties, patients/health care management,
• epidimoligical & clinical studies, analysis of clinical trials)
• Sharing with industries (Toxicology studies in food industries, R&D in drug
• companies, Livestock, Fish Farming etc)
• Research (genomics/proteomics analysis, disease/drug development, statistical
• research, vaccine development, Agriculture, bioinformatics faculty, assistance to  
• scientists etc)

Potential job areas for student areas in Pakistan:

• Research or clinical Laboratory technician or Scientists
• Manufacturing or production technician
• Product/quality control analyst
• Sales
• Writer
• Computer data analyst
• Software development
• Researchers or Research Associate, Biotechnology & Bioinformatics
• Patent lawyers
• Chemical/biomedical engineers
• Teaching and research institutes