The subject of pharmacy has evolved as a multidisciplinary, multifaceted curriculum with the emergence of the concept of “global healthcare”. Its involvement is deep and it has an important role in discovery of new drug molecule; its evaluation in clinical settings; development; approval for human consumption; manufacture; distribution; regulatory controls; and several other important aspects of healthcare.
Working in harmony with other members of the healthcare sector is crucial to ensure that pharmacists play an important role and social relevance of pharmacist in the healthcare system of any country is established. Hence, the curriculum at Chitkara College of Pharmacy (CCP) has been framed taking into consideration the responsibility of students to meet the demands of hi-tech pharmaceutical industry, at the same time ensuring that they confidently serve the requirements of patient care and pharmacy practice. The quality education and industry oriented approach makes Chitkara College of Pharmacy the first choice of students, making it to be the top b pharmacy colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh.
Pharmaceutical science basically has four branches, around which many of the subjects are framed. These branches are:
1. Pharmaceutical chemistry and analysis
These are related scientific disciplines at the intersection of chemistry and pharmacy dealing with designing and developing pharmaceutical drugs, and also with analytical topics that help develop basics about quality management of raw materials and finished pharmaceuticals.
2. Pharmaceutics
It’s the discipline of pharmacy that deals with all facets of the process of turning a new chemical entity into a medication able to be safely and effectively used by patients in the community.
3. Pharmacology
It’s the study of how chemical substances interact with living systems. The field encompasses study of drug composition, drug properties, interactions, toxicology, and desirable effects that can be used in therapy of diseases. Other subjects, viz., anatomy and physiology, and pathophysiology are a prelude to pharmacology, helping the students to develop the knowledge of intricate functioning, and make-up of human body and disease processes.
4. Pharmacognosy
It’s the study of medicinal products in their crude or unprepared form. It includes the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances as well as the search for new drugs from natural sources.
Additional specialized subjects, viz., industrial management and pharmaceutical jurisprudence help orienting the students to understand basic technicalities related to the control of regulating authorities across the world over research manufacture and distribution of pharmaceuticals and also train the students about appropriate management skills required to skilfully carry out these operations, and the involved mathematical calculations.
Additional elective integrated projects are a part of the curriculum to help students understand using knowledge from different subjects to carry out pharmaceutical research.
