Historical Background and Development of Pharmacy Profession

Pharmacy originates from the Greek word "Pharmakon," meaning drug or medicine.
It is the profession concerned with:
- Identification
- Selection
- Preparation
- Preservation
- Standardization
- Of drug substances from natural and synthetic sources.
These substances are formulated for:
- Diagnosis
- Prevention
- Treatment of diseases
A pharmacist is considered a "medicine or drug man."
Pharmacists are experts in the preparation, preservation, distribution, and handling of drugs.
Pharmacy links health sciences with chemical sciences.
Pharmacists ensure the safe and effective use of medication.
They are educated and trained to oversee all these aspects, making them experts on medication.

Pharmacy's history dates back to Sumer times, around 2000-1500 BC.
Lists of animal, vegetable, and mineral origins were used in disease management.
Prescriptions detailed ingredients and compounding methods.

The Chinese believed diseases resulted from imbalances.
They produced herbal drugs with "spiritual" effects.
They were the first users of podophyllum, rhubarb, ginseng, cinnamon, etc.
The text Huangdi Neijing listed basic principles of pharmaceutical drugs in the third century BC.

Indian healing (Ayurveda) is as old as Hinduism.
Ayurveda is classified as an Upa-Veda attached to the Atharva Veda.
It deals with diseases, injuries, fertility, sanity, and health.
The main principle involves five elements of creation (pancha-maha-bhuta):
- Earth
- Water
- Fire
- Air
- Ether
These form the basis of the three doshas:
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kahpa
These doshas are translated as air, bile, and phlegm.
Ayurveda incorporates lifestyle elements in therapy, including:
- Yoga
- Aroma
- Mediation
- Gems
- Amulets
- Herbs
- Diets
- Astrology
- Color
- Surgery
Important contributions came from Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Vaghbata.

Pharmacy existed before pharmacists.
Individuals would diagnose and provide medicines, hiring assistants (pharmacopolae) to collect herbs and prepare medications, but these assistants weren't pharmacists.
Arabs believed medicine preparation could be an independent profession.
The first pharmacy shop opened in Baghdad in 770 under Calip Al-Mansoer.
Initially, pharmacists had limited drug knowledge, but this changed under Al-Mamoen (ruled 813-833).
Pharmacists began acquiring professional education.
The profession was honorably called Sayadilah (Arabic) and Sandaliin (Latin).
Pharmacy used pharmaceutical terms for exchanging ideas and goods between India, China, and Spain.
Arabs developed new drug delivery forms like syrups, pellets, preserves, confections, and marmalades.

Pharmacy practice included traditional compounding and dispensing.
Divided into three parts:
1. Ancient history
2. Pre-independence
3. Post-independence

Drugs originated from vegetables, animals, and minerals.
Preparations were empirical, done by experienced individuals.
Medical system knowledge was often secret within families.
No scientific methods for drug standardization existed.
Ayurveda focused on internal medicine, while Sushrute-Samhita covered surgical medicine.
Charaka and Sushruta studied over 1000 herbs.
In Tamil Nadu (900 AD), organized hospital activity for patient treatment was discovered.
India's rich flora and fauna meant a variety of herbs were used to treat diseases like jaundice and hemorrhage.
British traders introduced the allopathic system in the 15th century.
The Indian system declined during Muslim rule, while the Arabic or Unani-Tibbi system flourished.

Pharmacy education in India was traditionally industry and product-oriented.
Graduate pharmacists preferred placements in the pharmaceutical industry.
To practice as a pharmacist, at least a diploma in pharmacy (2 years and 3 months of study) is needed.
Diploma-trained pharmacists are the mainstay of pharmacy practice.
The pharmacy practice curriculum received less attention.
Institutions offer pharmacy degrees at various levels, including a practice-based Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) program started in some private institutions in 2008.

Admission is based on higher secondary examination performance.
Private colleges have their own admission procedures complying with PCI regulations.
Students might choose D Pharm as a second or third choice.
The curriculum is framed through the education regulations of the Pharmacy Act.
The present education regulations were framed in 1991 (ER91).
The curriculum is the same throughout the country.
Efforts to upgrade the minimum qualification from D Pharm to B Pharm failed in the 1990s due to a lack of consensus.

Admission is directly from higher secondary school based on marks or entrance examination scores.
Public institutions mainly use entrance examinations.
For example, admission to BHU's B Pharm program is through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) conducted by IITs.

Entry is based on academic performance in B Pharm or an entrance test.
There is more demand than available places.
A high Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering (GATE) score qualifies students for government scholarships.
Many public institutions require both past academic performance and GATE score for application.

Admission is based on completion of higher secondary examination or the D Pharm program.
Passing the higher secondary examination with physics, chemistry, and biology or mathematics allows entry.
B Pharm degree holders can join in the fourth year.

Pharmacy education is regulated by:
- Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) under the Pharmacy Act of 1948
- All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the AICTE Act of 1987
The PCI regulates the minimum standard of education for qualification as a pharmacist.
It is responsible for registering qualified individuals and issuing licenses to practice in an Indian state.
Registration is decentralized, with state pharmacy councils responsible for registering pharmacists.
The PCI regulates the D Pharm and Pharm D programs.
The B Pharm program needs PCI recognition for qualifications to be accepted for registration.
The PCI has no jurisdiction over M Pharm and other higher-level degree programs.

In 1930, Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceutical Works was started in Calcutta, now one of 5 government-owned drug manufacturers.
The Indian pharmaceutical market was almost non-existent in the 1970s.
Today, India has gained importance in the pharmaceutical domain.
It has emerged as a big market for formulations, bulk drugs, generics, Novel Drug Delivery Systems, New Chemical Entities, and Biotechnology.
Indian companies dominate the marketplace, traditionally manned by MNCs.