Part III: Pharmacy Subject Syllabus (70% Weightage)

This core technical section is designed to test the comprehensive knowledge of a candidate in various domains of pharmaceutical sciences at the Matric+Diploma in Pharmacy level.

1. Pharmaceutics

• History of the profession of Pharmacy in India in relation to Pharmacy education, industry, pharmacy practice, and professional associations.
• Salient features of Indian Pharmacopoeia, Packaging materials, Preservatives.
• Unit Operations: Size reduction, Size separation, Filtration, Drying, Extraction.
• Dosage Forms: Tablets, Capsules, Liquid oral preparations (syrup, elixir, emulsion, suspension), Topical preparations, Powders and granules, Sterile formulations.
• Immunological Products: Quality control and quality assurance.
• Introduction to the concept of calibration and validation, Novel drug delivery systems.

2. Pharmaceutical Chemistry

• Introduction to Pharmaceutical chemistry, Sources and types of errors, Impurities in Pharmaceuticals.
• Volumetric & Gravimetric analysis.
• Inorganic Pharmaceuticals: Haematinics, Gastro-intestinal Agents, Topical agents, Dental products, Medicinal gases.
• Drugs Acting on Systems: Central Nervous System (Anaesthetics, Sedatives, Hypnotics), Autonomic Nervous System, Cardiovascular System (Anti-Arrhythmic, Anti-Hypertensive).
• Other key drug classes: Diuretics, Hypo-glycaemic Agents, Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Anti-Infective Agents (Antifungal, Anti-Tubercular, Antiviral), Antibiotics, Anti-Neoplastic Agents.

3. Pharmacognosy

• Definition, history, present status and scope of Pharmacognosy.
• Classification of crude drugs, Quality control of crude drugs.
• Pharmaceutical applications of alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, volatile oils, tannins, and resins.
• Biological source, chemical constituents, and therapeutic efficacy of crude drugs like Laxatives, Cardiotonics, Astringents, Anti-hypertensives, Anti-diabetics, etc.
• Plant fibres used as surgical dressings (Cotton, Silk, Wool).
• Basic principles of Ayurvedic formulations.
• Herbs as health food and introduction to herbal cosmetics.

4. Human Anatomy and Physiology

• Scope of Anatomy and Physiology; Structure of Cell, Tissues of the human body.
• Detailed study of bodily systems: Osseous, Haemopoietic, Lymphatic, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Digestive, Skeletal muscles, Nervous, Urinary, Endocrine, and Reproductive systems.
• Anatomy and physiology of Sense organs.

5. Social Pharmacy

• Introduction to Social Pharmacy, Preventive healthcare and the Role of Pharmacists.
• Nutrition and Health, Microbiology, and common microorganisms.
• Epidemiology, Introduction to health systems and all ongoing National Health programs in India, their objectives, and the role of pharmacists.
• Pharmacoeconomics.

6. Pharmacology

• General Pharmacology, Drugs Acting on the Peripheral Nervous System, Eye, Central Nervous System, and Cardiovascular System.
• Drugs Acting on Blood and Blood Forming Organs, Gastro Intestinal Tract, and Kidney.
• Hormones and Hormone Antagonists, Autocoids, Chemotherapeutic Agents, Biologicals.
• Pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of drug classes like Anti-ulcer, Anti-emetics, Laxatives, etc.

7. Community Pharmacy and Management

• Community Pharmacy Practice, Professional responsibilities of community pharmacists.
• Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Prescription and prescription handling, Communication skills, Patient counselling.
• Medication Adherence, Health Screening Services, Over the Counter (OTC) Medications.

8. Biochemistry & Clinical Pathology

• Introduction to biochemistry, Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, Nucleic acids.
• Enzymes, Vitamins, Minerals, Water and Electrolytes.
• Introduction to Biotechnology, Organ function tests.
• Introduction to Pathology of Blood and Urine.

9. Pharmacotherapeutics

• Introduction, scope, and objectives. Rational use of Medicines, Essential Medicines List, Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs).
• Management of diseases associated with Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Endocrine, Central Nervous, and Gastro Intestinal systems.
• Management of Haematological, Infectious, Musculoskeletal, and Psychiatric Disorders.

10. Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy

• Hospital Pharmacy, Different Committees in the Hospital.
• Supply Chain and Inventory Control, Drug distribution.
• Compounding in Hospitals, IV admixture services, Total parenteral nutrition.
• Application of computers in Hospital Pharmacy Practice.
• Clinical Pharmacy: Daily activities of clinical pharmacists, Pharmaceutical care, Medication Therapy Management.
• Poisoning, Pharmacovigilance, Medication errors, Drug Interactions.

11. Pharmacy Law and Ethics

• General Principles of Law, Pharmacy Act-1948, Pharmacy Practice Regulations 2015.
• Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985.
• Drugs and Magic Remedies Act 1954, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act-1960.
• FSSAI Act, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
• Code of Pharmaceutical Ethics, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.
• Regulatory Bodies: CDSCO, IPC; Good Regulatory Practices.
• Concepts of Clinical Trials, Patent Law, Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016, Consumer Protection Act.