A Textbook of Pharmacy Practice

Pharmacy practice as is practiced and expected to practice in the country, comprises of three major areas - hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy and community pharmacy. About 80 percent of all working pharmacists are in the area of pharmacy practice. Compared to their counterparts in other areas, the pharmacists in the practice set ups require specialised knowledge and skills to deal with health care professionals, patients and the society. The professional responsibilities of practicing pharmacists include activities like patient care, education and research. This book is written with the objective of targeting and motivating all such sections.

The revised 2nd edition of this book is having 15 Chapters, as 3 new chapters namely chapter 1 ’Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice Education in India’, chapter 12 ’Medicine Policies in India’ and Chapter 13 ’Generic Medicines and Fixed Dose Combination in India’ are added to the existing 12 chapters. These additional chapters were included in the book with the specific objective of making both the teachers and students aware of the changing situations in India in the area of Pharmacy Practice.

Government of India dared to introduce many changes in the Indian Pharmacy Practice area during 2015-18 period. Unless the students are made aware of such things, they cannot become effective in practicing pharmacy in the country. Education is not a process of teaching the professionals of tomorrow by the teachers of today using the curricula of yesterdays.

Moreover the purpose of education is to make the new generation involved in nation building process through their expertise, and not making them job seekers in other countries.