Historical background and development of profession of pharmacy

Author DrX Whiz Niraj 📅 July 05, 2026
Historical background and development of profession of pharmacy
Smart Translation:
Pharmaceutics I | Unit 1

History of Pharmacy & Pharmacopoeias

Comprehensive exam notes on the historical background of Pharmacy in India, Pharmacy as a Career, and detailed introduction to IP, BP, USP, and Extra Pharmacopoeia.

History of Pharmacy and Pharmacopoeias
1. History of Pharmacy in India

The history of the pharmacy profession in India is deeply rooted in ancient Ayurvedic texts (like Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita). However, the modern allopathic pharmacy profession began taking shape during British rule.

The Father of Indian Pharmacy:

Prof. Mahadeva Lal Schroff (M.L. Schroff) is universally recognized as the Father of Pharmacy Education in India. He introduced the first 3-year B.Pharm course at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1932.

1901 Bengal Chemical & Pharma Works (Acharya P.C. Ray) 1932 First B.Pharm Course at BHU by Prof. M.L. Schroff 1948 Pharmacy Act passed in India 1955 First Edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP)
Fig 1: Milestones in the History of Indian Pharmacy

Development in Organization & Industry

  • 1901: Acharya P.C. Ray established the first pharmaceutical company in India, the "Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works" in Calcutta.
  • 1945: The Pharmacy Bill was introduced.
  • 1948: The Pharmacy Act was passed to regulate the profession and education of pharmacy in India.
  • 1949: The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) was constituted under the Pharmacy Act to set educational standards.
2. Pharmacy as a Career

Pharmacy is a highly versatile and globally recognized profession. It acts as the critical bridge between medical science and patient care. A pharmacist has various career opportunities:

1. Practice Pharmacy

  • Community Pharmacy: Dispensing medicines at retail medical stores, patient counseling.
  • Hospital Pharmacy: Managing medicine supply, compounding, and dispensing inside a hospital.
  • Clinical Pharmacy: Working with doctors in wards to optimize drug therapy and monitor Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs).

2. Industrial Pharmacy

  • Production & Manufacturing: Large-scale formulation of tablets, syrups, injections.
  • Quality Control & Assurance (QC/QA): Testing drug purity and ensuring cGMP compliance.
  • Research & Development (R&D): Drug discovery, formulation development, and clinical trials.

Other Opportunities: Academics (Teaching), Regulatory Affairs (FDA/CDSCO), Pharmacovigilance, and Medical Coding/Writing.

3. Introduction to Pharmacopoeias

The word Pharmacopoeia comes from the Greek words 'Pharmakon' (drug) and 'Poiein' (to make). It literally means "drug-making".
It is an official, legally binding book published by a recognized authority (usually the government) that contains a list of approved drugs, their formulas, standards for quality, testing methods, and purity limits.

IP Indian Pharmacopoeia 1st Ed: 1955 BP British Pharmacopoeia 1st Ed: 1864 USP United States Pharmacopeia 1st Ed: 1820
Fig 2: Major Official Pharmacopoeias used globally
Pharmacopoeia Key Details & Editions
Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP)
  • Published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) on behalf of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
  • Headquarters: Ghaziabad, UP.
  • Editions: 1st (1955), 2nd (1966), 3rd (1985), 4th (1996), 5th (2007), 6th (2010), 7th (2014), 8th (2018), 9th (2022).
British Pharmacopoeia (BP)
  • Published by the British Pharmacopoeia Commission under the MHRA (UK).
  • First edition published in 1864 by merging London, Edinburgh, and Dublin pharmacopoeias.
  • Contains monographs for human and veterinary medicines.
United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
  • First edition published in 1820.
  • Usually published in a combined volume with the National Formulary as USP-NF.
  • Sets highly rigorous standards used in over 140 countries.

What is Extra Pharmacopoeia?

Also known as Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference. Unlike IP, BP, or USP, it is a Non-Official compendium. It was first published by William Martindale in 1883. It provides unbiased, highly detailed, and thoroughly evaluated information on drugs and medicines used worldwide, even those not officially listed in national pharmacopoeias.

Exam Corner (Test Yourself)
1. Who is universally regarded as the "Father of Pharmacy Education in India"?
A. Acharya P.C. Ray B. Prof. M.L. Schroff C. Dr. B.C. Roy D. William Martindale
2. In which year was the first edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) published?
A. 1948 B. 1949 C. 1955 D. 1966
3. The 'Extra Pharmacopoeia' is a highly reputed non-official reference book. What is its other popular name?
A. USP-NF B. The Merck Index C. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference D. BNF
DrX Whiz Niraj

DrX Whiz Niraj

Medical educator and pharmacy expert dedicated to providing high-quality, scientifically accurate notes, MCQs, and pharmacology facts.

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