Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D)

Program Description

Pharmacy is the field of health science that deals with the discovery, production, disposal, safe and effective use, and control of medicinal products of natural & synthetic origin. The importance of pharmacy graduates in the healthcare system is growing every day due to the introduction of uncounted new drugs, the emergence of new resistant microbes, and the changes in healthcare delivery systems. Pharmacists are the third largest healthcare professional group in the world who play an effective role in the healthcare system of a country. Currently, there are about 30,000 pharmacists in Pakistan for optimal healthcare delivery, 105,000 pharmacists are required for a population of 210,000,000, as per WHO standards. These circumstances have created a huge demand for more professional pharmacists.

Why Study at PAF IAST?

Location and Ambience

Natural mountains nestle PAF IAST that flank its campus from all sides. The institute offers one  ravishing view of snow-capped peaks of Nathiagali and natural winding trails. Furthermore, to its north-west is Tarbela Lake, a journey of only a few kilometers from the campus. Moreover, set in the middle of the campus is a natural lake, fed by the springs of surrounding mountains. The campus is just a 3-kilometer drive from the Hazara Motorway. This results in an ideal setting equally conducive to academic activity. Most importantly, major cities like Islamabad, Abbottabad, are just an hour’s drive, while small towns like Wah, Hasanabadal, Taxila, and Swabi can be reached in just half an hour.

Technology Advancement and Foreign Partnership

This institute is an emerging center of excellences, with its own technology park. Therefore, all faculty members hold PhD degrees in appropriate disciplines. By virtue of its wide array of facilities and the facilitation for its students to learn. Furthermore, they benefit both from classroom teaching and faculty trained at premier Austrian universities/institutions. The institution is ideally cut out for imparting state-of–the-art engineering and allied education in Pakistan. Moreover, the institute enjoys close linkages with top ranking universities in Austria and China. As a result, we have already concluded with them formal agreements regarding student and faculty exchange programs, provision of dual degrees in certain areas, and the training support from foreign faculty. 

Academia-Industry Relationship

There is a strong relationship between academia and industry. As a result, this paves the way for job opportunities for students even in the midst of their studies. PAF IAST will serve as a welcome platform for the industry to share their requirements for a skilled workforce. Therefore, this will enable the institute to incorporate their valuable inputs in practical vocational training and expose the students to industrial perspectives.

On-Spot Industry Internship

Firstly, it will be a mandatory requirement for every student to do an internship every semester in an appropriate industry. Secondly, this will garner them practical experience related to their respective degree programs. To crown it all, Technology Park will afford them rare opportunities to apply themselves innovatively and become promising entrepreneurs.

Need and Merit-based Scholarships

Different types of local and foreign scholarship opportunities are available on need and merit base.

Course Outline

1st Professional Semester 1

Course No.

Subject

Cr. Hr.

ENG 300

English-A (Functional

2

 

English)

 

PHARM 310

Pharmaceutics-IA

3+1

 

(Physical Pharmacy)

 

PHARM 311

Pharmaceutical

3+1

 

Chemistry-IA (Organic)

 

PHARM 312

Pharmaceutical

3+1

 

Chemistry-IIA

 

 

(Biochemistry)

 

PHARM 313

Physiology-A

3+1

PHARM 314

Anatomy & Histology

3+1

Total Cr. Hr. 22

1st Professional Semester 2

Course No.

Subject

Cr.Hr.

ENG 301

English-B

4

 

(Communication & Writing

 

 

skills)

 

PHARM 315

Pharmaceutics-IB

3+1

 

(Physical Pharmacy)

 

PHARM 316

Pharmaceutical

3+1

 

Chemistry-IB (Organic)

 

PHARM 317

Pharmaceutical

3+1

 

Chemistry-IIB

 

 

(Biochemistry)

 

PHARM 318

Physiology-B

3+1

Total Cr. Hr. 20

2nd Professional Semester 1

Course No.

Subject

Cr. Hr.

IS 402

Islamic Studies

3

PHARM 410

Pharmaceutics-IIA

3+1

 

(Dosage Form Science)

 

PHARM 411

Pharmaceutics-IIIA

3+1

 

(Pharmaceutical

 

 

Microbiology &

 

 

Immunology)

 

PHARM 412

Pharmacology and

3+1

 

Therapeutics-IA

 

PHARM 413

Pharmacognosy-IA

3+1

 

(Basic)

 

PHARM 414

Pharmacy Practice-IA

3

 

(Pharmaceutical

 

 

Mathematics)

 

Total Cr. Hr. 22

2nd Professional Semester 2

Course No.

Subject

Cr.Hr.

PS 403

Pakistan Studies

2

PHARM 415

Pharmaceutics-IIB

3+1

 

(Dosage Form Science)

 

PHARM 416

Pharmaceutics-IIIB

3+1

 

(Pharmaceutical

 

 

Microbiology &

 

 

Immunology)

 

PHARM 417

Pharmacology and

3+1

 

Therapeutics-IB

 

PHARM 418

Pharmacognosy-IB (Basic)

3+1

 

 

 

PHARM 419

Pharmacy Practice-IB

3

 

(Bio-statistics)

 

 

 

 

Total Cr. Hr. 21

3rd Professional Semester 1

Course No.

Subject

Cr.Hr.

PHARM 510

Pharmacy Practice-IIA (Dispensing Pharmacy) Pharmaceutical Chemistry- IIIA (Pharmaceutical Analysis) Pharmacology and Therapeutics-IIA Pharmacognosy-IIA (Advanced)

Pathology

3+1

PHARM 511

3+1

 

 

PHARM 512

3+1

 

 

PHARM 513

 

 

PHARM 514

3+1

 

3+1

 

 

Total Cr. Hr. 20

3rd Professional Semester 2

Course No.

Subject

Cr. Hr.

PHARM 515

Pharmacy Practice-IIB (Community, Social & Administrative Pharmacy) Pharmaceutical Chemistry-IIIB (Pharmaceutical Analysis) Pharmacology and Therapeutics-IIB Pharmacognosy-IIB (Advanced)

Pharmacy Practice-III (Computer and its Applications in Pharmacy)

3

 

 

PHARM 516

 

 

3+1

PHARM 517

 

 

3+1

PHARM 518

PHARM 519

 

3+1

 

 

 

3+1

Total Cr. Hr. 19

4th Professional Semester 1

Course No.

Subject

Cr.

Hr.

PHARM 610

Pharmacy Practice-IVA (Hospital Pharmacy) Pharmacy Practice-VA (Clinical Pharmacy) Pharmaceutics-IVA (Industrial Pharmacy) Pharmaceutics-VA (Biopharmaceutics

& Pharmacokinetics) Pharmaceutics-VIA (Pharmaceutical Quality Management)

3

PHARM 611

 

 

3+1

PHARM 612

 

 

3+1

PHARM 613

 

 

3+1

PHARM 614

 

 

3+1

Total Cr. Hr. 19

4th Professional Semester 2

Course No.

Subject

Cr.Hr.

PHARM 615

Pharmacy Practice-IVB (Hospital Pharmacy) Pharmacy Practice-VB (Clinical Pharmacy) Pharmaceutics-IVB (Industrial Pharmacy) Pharmaceutics-VB (Biopharmaceutics

& Pharmacokinetics) Pharmaceutics-VIB (Pharmaceutical Quality Management)

3

PHARM 616

 

 

3+1

PHARM 617

 

 

3+1

PHARM 618

 

 

3+1

PHARM 619

 

 

3+1

Total Cr. Hr. 19

5th Professional Semester 1

Course No.

Subject

Cr.

Hr.

PHARM 710

Pharmaceutics-VIIA Pharmaceutical Technology) Pharmacy Practice-VIA (Advanced

Clinical Pharmacy-II) Pharmacy Practice-VIIA (Forensic Pharmacy) Pharmacy Practice-VIIIA (Pharmaceutical Management & Marketing) Pharmaceutical

Chemistry-IVA (Medicinal Chemistry)

3+1

PHARM 711

3+1

 

 

PHARM 712

3

 

 

PHARM 713

 

 

3

PHARM 714

 

 

3+1

Total Cr. Hr. 18

5th Professional Semester 2

Course No.

Subject

Cr.Hr.

PHARM 715

Pharmaceutics- VIIB (Pharmaceutical Technology)

Pharmacy Practice-VIB (Advanced

Clinical Pharmacy-II) Pharmacy Practice-VIIB (Forensic Pharmacy) Pharmacy Practice-VIIIB (Pharmaceutical Management & Marketing) Pharmaceutical

Chemistry-IVB

(Medicinal Chemistry)

3+1

 

 

PHARM 716

3+1

 

 

PHARM 717

3

 

 

PHARM 718

3

 

 

PHARM 719

3+1

Total Cr. Hr. 18

PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES (PEOs)

1: PEO

To provide a comprehensive pharmaceutical education leading to Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D) degree.

2: PEO

To integrate pharmacy knowledge and skills with pharmaceutical research.

3: PEO

To prepare a health caring and community-oriented pharmacist who is competent to deal with common health and pharmaceutical problems.

4: PEO

To provide hands-on training through state of art infrastructure to inculcate research aptitude in pharmaceutical sciences which will enhance the understanding of human health and disease.

5: PEO

To inculcate leadership and entrepreneurship capabilities in future pharmacy professionals

6: PEO

To integrate knowledge and skills with clinical research to promote healthcare

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLOs)

The students graduating from the Pharm.D program will have:

1: PLO

Demonstrate knowledge of pharmacy practice and the ability to acquire, manage and use current information for problem-solving, patient-specific, population-specific, evidence-based care to promote safe and optimal pharmacotherapy outcomes

2: PLO

Identify the rules and regulations involved in the drug discovery and development, distribution, sale, and safe use of medicines and participate in the development of drug use policy

3: PLO

Apply critical thinking skills, including investigation, application, analysis, creativity, synthesis, and documents related to drugs, poison, clinical investigations, pharmaceutical care, and practices

4: PLO

Develop problem-based learning approach and analytical thinking in his/her academic and professional life

5: PLO

The ability to plan and implement professional activities and act efficiently as a leader in diverse areas of the profession.

6: PLO

Partnering with other healthcare communities to provide innovative solutions and create awareness in society about the effective and safe use of medicines.

7. PLO

To identify socio-cultural background, socio-economic factors, and changing environment in health and illness.

SYLLABUS STUDY TOURS

Program duration

Pharm.D is a five years, (10-semester) degree program with 198 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters. Summer break is dedicated for structured based internship.

Medicinal plant collection Tour

Study tour to various localities in Pakistan is mandatory in 2nd professional year for the collection of medicinal plants and students have to prepare a comprehensive report and submit it to a concerned teacher for critical evaluation.

Pharmaceutical industrial visit

The main aim of PAF-IAST is to develop industrial linkages so that students in 2nd and 4th professional year visit the pharmaceutical industries to develop an understanding of various operations in different sectors of the pharmaceutical industry like production, manufacturing, quality control, quality assurance, and packaging. Students have to prepare a detailed report and submit it for evaluation in the examination.

Hospital internship

Internship in clinical and community settings is mandatory in 4th and 5th professional year  in teaching/ tertiary care hospitals and community pharmacies. Students are required to submit internship reports and projects which would be evaluated by the external examiner and concerned teacher.

National Institutes of Health Tour

Tour to NIH Islamabad to understand biological manufacturing, quality control, research & development, and training facilities. 

Affiliation with different hospitals

PAF-IAST is affiliated with different hospitals like DHQ Hospital Haripur, Cat-C Hospital Khalabat, and Children and Women Care Hospital, Haripur.

Admissions

PAF-IAST promotes equal opportunities and welcomes students from all backgrounds, irrespective of their creed, color, gender, ethnicity, and their social and financial status. Female students are encouraged to join any program of their choice and realize their dreams.