Pharmacy education, practice, and professional landscape in India: a narrative review.

OBJECTIVES

Pharmacy plays a critical role in healthcare through medication management, patient counselling, pharmaceutical care, public health services, and pharmaceutical research. India possesses one of the largest pharmacy education systems and pharmaceutical workforces globally; however, the profession continues to face several educational, regulatory, and practice-related challenges.

METHODS

This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of pharmacy education, professional practice, regulatory frameworks, career pathways, research culture, and emerging trends in India. Relevant literature was identified from peer-reviewed publications, official reports, policy documents, and regulatory resources obtained through databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and official websites of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), and other governmental and professional organizations.

KEY FINDINGS: The review highlights that India has a well-established pharmacy education infrastructure and a large pharmaceutical workforce. However, several challenges persist, including variability in experiential and clinical training, limited implementation of patient-oriented pharmacy services, underutilization of clinical pharmacists, gaps in regulatory enforcement, inconsistent continuing professional development (CPD) frameworks, and limited outcomes-based evidence supporting pharmacist-led interventions. Opportunities exist for expanding clinical pharmacy services, medication therapy management, antimicrobial stewardship programs, and pharmacist participation in multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

CONCLUSIONS

Strengthening competency-based education, experiential learning, clinical pharmacy practice, regulatory oversight, CPD, and research capacity will be essential for advancing the profession. Addressing these priorities may improve medication safety, patient outcomes, and the overall contribution of pharmacists to healthcare delivery while aligning pharmacy education and practice in India with evolving global standards.