Nepal pharmacy council exam syllabus for Diploma in Pharmacy

 Nepal pharmacy council exam syllabus for Diploma in Pharmacy 

 

Clinical Pharmacy & Hospital Pharmacy

Hospital Pharmacy

Introduction 

• A hospital is an institution that provides medical and surgical treatment to patients. Hospitals can be classified based on ownership, function, and service capacity. In Nepal, the hospital management and healthcare delivery system follow national healthcare policies.

Hospital Pharmacy 

• Hospital pharmacy services include procuring, storing, preparing, dispensing, and monitoring medications. The design of a hospital pharmacy layout ensures the efficient flow of materials and personnel. Regulatory and professional requirements govern hospital pharmacy practice, making it essential for hospital pharmacists to possess specific skills and knowledge.

Drug Distribution System in Hospitals 

• Hospitals follow various drug distribution systems, including outpatient and inpatient services, unit dose systems, floor/ward stock systems, satellite pharmacy systems, central sterile services, and bedside pharmacy services.

Extemporaneous Compounding and Dispensing 

• Compounding requires trained personnel, quality chemical sources, specialized equipment (for measuring, molding, mixing, and packaging), and a dedicated compounding area. Expiry dates of different preparations must be strictly monitored. The concept of total parenteral nutrition is also an integral part of hospital pharmacy practice.

Medicine and Therapeutic Committee (MTC) 

• The MTC is responsible for formulary management, standard treatment guidelines (STGs), and implementing hospital pharmacy service guidelines.

Surgical and Sterilization Concepts 

• Understanding surgical dressings such as cotton, gauze, bandages, adhesive tapes, sutures, IV sets, catheters, syringes, and other health accessories is essential. Central Sterile Supply Room (CSSR) and sterilization techniques ensure infection control in hospital settings.

Store Management 

• Stock maintenance requires proper inventory tracking for drugs (including narcotics), non-drug consumables, and medical supplies. Inventory management follows ABC analysis, VED analysis, FSN analysis, FIFO, and FEFO methods to optimize supply chain efficiency.

Application of Computers in Pharmacy 

• Computers are essential in pharmacy practice for maintaining records, controlling inventory, monitoring medications, retrieving drug information, and data storage in hospital and retail pharmacy establishments.

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Clinical Pharmacy 

• Clinical pharmacy focuses on patient-centered care, which includes evaluating demographic data, dietary information, social habits, and current and past prescription and non-prescription medications. Pharmacists also monitor medication allergies and adverse drug reactions (ADR).

Drug Interactions 

• Understanding drug-drug interactions, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, is crucial for safe therapy. Common interactions occur with analgesics, diuretics, cardiovascular drugs, gastrointestinal agents, vitamins, and hypoglycemic agents. Drug-food interactions also require consideration.

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) 

• Adverse drug reactions (ADR) can be classified into different types and must be closely monitored under pharmacovigilance programs. Drug-induced diseases and teratogenic effects are essential concerns in clinical practice.

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Community Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence

Community Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence

Community Pharmacy 

• Community pharmacy plays a crucial role in public health by ensuring appropriate medication dispensing and patient counseling. Pharmacists support primary healthcare services and provide professional guidance in prescription handling, extemporaneous dispensing, labeling, and patient compliance.

Management of a Community Pharmacy 

• Establishing a community pharmacy requires business planning, pharmacy layout design, legal ownership structure, financial management, risk assessment, insurance, pricing strategies, purchasing, inventory control, and credit management. Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) and technological integration improve service efficiency.

Communication Skills 

• Effective communication includes verbal and non-verbal skills, active listening, questioning techniques, and maintaining confidentiality while interacting with patients and healthcare providers.

Good Community Pharmacy Practices 

• Pharmacists respond to patient symptoms and provide guidance on managing conditions such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, diabetes, peptic ulcers, hypertension, asthma, gout, thyroid disorders, and common infections. Monitoring drug therapy and managing prescription incompatibilities are vital responsibilities.

Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence 

• Pharmaceutical laws in Nepal include the: 
• Drugs Act 2035 (1978)
• Drug Consultation Council and Drug Advisory Regulation 2037 (1980)
• Drug Registration Regulation 2038 (1981)
• Drug Inspection Regulation 2040 (1983)
• Drug Standard Regulation 2043 (1986)
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Nepal Pharmacy Council Act 2057 (2000)
• Additional laws cover veterinary and ayurvedic medicine, company regulations, and consumer protection.

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Pharmaceutics

Pharmaceutics

Pharmaceutical Preparations and Dosage Forms 

• Pharmaceutical dosage forms include tablets, capsules, powders, creams, emulsions, injections, syrups, suppositories, ophthalmic preparations, aerosols, and veterinary formulations.

Pharmacopoeias and Formularies 

• Standard references include the British Pharmacopoeia, United States Pharmacopoeia, Indian Pharmacopoeia, British Pharmaceutical Codex, Japanese Pharmacopoeia, International Pharmacopoeia, and European Pharmacopoeia.

Pharmaceutical Processing and Manufacturing 

• Manufacturing processes involve comminution, size separation, mixing, filtration, extraction, drying, heat processes, and distillation. Pharmaceutical products require proper packaging, stability testing, and quality assurance.

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Pharmacognosy & Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Pharmacognosy & Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Pharmacognosy 

• Pharmacognosy deals with medicinal plants, their cultivation, harvesting, and processing. The study includes alkaloids, glycosides, volatile oils, tannins, and fixed oils. Quality control methods involve microscopic and chemical evaluations.

Medicinal Plants of Nepal 

• Several economically significant medicinal plants in Nepal include Panchaunle, Sugandhakokila, Yarshagumba, Harro, Pipla, Barro, Satawari, Timur, Gurjo, and Amala.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry 

• Chemical principles include acid-base balance, buffer solutions, and organic compound nomenclature. Pharmacists study drug classifications, storage, and quality control.

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Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics

Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics

General Pharmacological Principles 

• Pharmacokinetics involves drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination. Pharmacodynamics examines drug mechanisms of action, receptor interactions, and bioavailability. Essential drug concepts and adverse drug reaction classifications are crucial for therapy.

Gastrointestinal Drugs

• Medications for peptic ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation include antacids, antiemetics (Metoclopramide, Domperidone), and laxatives.

NSAIDs & Analgesics 

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, diclofenac, and nimesulide manage pain, fever, and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis drugs include steroids and disease-modifying agents.

Drugs Acting on the Nervous System 

• This includes autonomic nervous system drugs (adrenergic and cholinergic agents), respiratory drugs (bronchodilators, expectorants), and psychotropic medications.

Antimicrobial Drugs

• Antibiotics include sulfonamides, penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, macrolides, quinolones, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics.

Vaccines & Sera 

• Vaccination programs include BCG, DPT, polio, measles, tetanus, hepatitis, rabies, and anti-snake venom.

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Social Pharmacy & Public Health

Social Pharmacy & Public Health

Healthcare System 

• The history and structure of healthcare in Nepal include traditional and modern medical systems. Primary health care (PHC) follows WHO guidelines and emphasizes disease prevention and health promotion.

Public Health Education 

• Health education involves communication strategies like group discussions, counseling, and audiovisual aids to promote healthcare awareness. Pharmacists play an essential role in health education and disease prevention.

Vector-Borne Diseases 

• Common diseases include malaria, filariasis, kala-azar, influenza, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis. Controlling vector-borne diseases is a priority in public health management.