How To Become A Drug Inspector

Eligibility to become a drug inspector

Those who want to find out ‘How to Become a Drug Inspector?', need to read the eligibility criteria below. 

Subject Combination:

• Physics.
  
  
• Biochemistry/Chemistry.
  
  
• Microbiology/Biology.

Entrance Exams:

• Various SPSCs (State Public Service Commissions) conduct recruitment for Drug Inspectors. For vacant positions in the Drug Inspectorate, these authorities administer entrance exams.
  
  
• Applicants must be 21 years of age or older.
  
  
• Normally, the maximum age requirement is 30 years, but the maximum age can be relaxed by 5 years if the candidate belongs to a reserved category.
  
  
• Candidates must generally possess a degree in Pharmacy, Medicine or Pharmaceutical Sciences. The most preferred degree is one in Clinical Pharmacology or Microbiology. 

Key Skills:

The following skills are essential to working as a drugs inspector:

• Those who inspect pharmaceuticals and medical products must be familiar with the rules, regulations, and safety standards.
  
  
• To find the best combinations of salts that can be beneficial and healthy for patients, you will need to perform tests and evaluations.
  
  
• After conducting extensive tests and research, drug inspectors need to be able to analyse the results to come to meaningful, definitive conclusions.
  
  
• During their research, scientists such as mathematicians determine the right ratio of salts in a particular combination of chemicals using formulas they devise to increase the efficiency of drug inspectors.
  
  
• Candidates for drug inspections may need to know how to quickly absorb information and details in addition to excellent knowledge of chemistry and biology.
  
  
• Having motivation and determination is important to encourage yourself to continue running more tests until you find the results you need to complete your experiment since you may run numerous tests and evaluate the results on a regular basis.

Selection process to become a drug inspector

As a drug inspector, you are chosen by various departments of the state and the Union Government based on your academic performance, written exam, and personal interview.

Those possessing the required qualifications can qualify to become drug inspectors by taking the written exam.

In general, there are two types of questions on the exam:

• General knowledge questions
  
  
• Pharmacy-related questions

In order to become a drug inspector, you can follow the following steps.

• Step 1: As a 12th grade student, you should concentrate on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
  
  
• Step 2: For admission into a Bachelor of Pharmacy or Diploma in Pharmacy program, you need to take an entrance exam administered by the various state governments and pharmacy schools.
  
  The examination usually takes place in the month of May to June and consists of multiple choice questions from the relevant subjects. Results are usually made available by mid-June or mid-July.
  
  
• Step 3: You can sit for the entrance tests conducted by state and federal public service commissions after completing the four-year bachelor's degree program for drug inspector jobs in a variety of departments after completing the program.
  
  The central government departments that require master's degrees to become drug inspectors may request that you have a master's degree in a relevant field after you pass exams like the GPAT.

Types of job role drug inspector

Drug inspectors have to perform many different types of tasks throughout their careers. They are listed below.

• Pharmacovigilance: Medications, vaccines, biological products, herbals, blood products, complementary medicines, and so on, are collected, monitored, researched, assessed and evaluated by professionals in this field.
  
  
• Drug safety officer: These specialists monitor patients' adverse reactions to medicines or drugs. They report the results to the appropriate authorities for modification.
  
  
• Medical reviewer: In medical record audits, a Medical Reviewer examines medical records containing health care facilities. Unlike medical reviewers, medical auditors verify the accuracy of drug quality assessment records by reviewing data. They are also called medical auditors.
  
  
• Drug safety physician: A drug safety physician monitors a drug's performance and makes recommendations about it with the help of the drug safety team. An important qualification for a physician in the field of drug safety is to understand how drugs affect the body and how they cause various diseases.
  
  
• Drug safety associate: Similarly, Drug Safety Associates perform the same tasks as Drug Safety Officers.

How to prepare for a drug inspector exam

State and departmental syllabuses and examination patterns may vary for posts of drug inspector. However, in general, the paper has two parts totaling 250 points.

From the pharmacy, you will be asked about 100 multiple-choice questions over the course of two hours. During the second part of the test you will need to answer 50 multiple-choice questions about general topics; you will have one hour to complete them.

Answers to questions must be written exclusively in English since the question papers usually have English as their language.

Exam syllabus for drug inspectors

On a drug inspector test, questions are covered from forensic science, manufacturing science, anatomy and physiology, medicinal chemistry, Hospital and Clinic pharmacy, pharmacy theory, and health education.

On the general paper, you can expect questions from current events, observations from everyday life, and experiences in the scientific aspect of life.

What are the requirements for becoming a drug inspector?

• As a drug inspector, you need to be familiar with the many safety rules, regulations, and standards applicable to consumable items, especially drugs and medicines.
  
  
• As part of your responsibilities, you should also be able to conduct tests on salt compatibility and maintain up-to-date knowledge of the latest advances in the pharmaceutical industry and other related fields.
  
  
• Aside from these requirements, you should also be disciplined, have the ability and willingness to work with others, have a dedication to excellence in your respective fields, and you should feel comfortable working under testing conditions.

Books and study material to become a drug inspector

Below is a list of books that drug inspectors should read.

• Pharmaceutics-I: General and Dispensing Pharmacy by Gupta.
  
  
• Forensic Pharmacy by C. Kokate.
  
  
• GP Mohanty’s Textbook of Forensic Pharmacy
  
  
• Cooper and Gunn’s Tutorial Pharmacy by.
  
  
• Cooper and Gunn’s Dispensing Pharmacy.
  
  
• Lucent’s General Knowledge

Pros and cons of becoming drug inspector

Pros :

• An excellent salary
  
  
• Government jobs have their perks
  
  
• High-powered
  
  
• Pharmacists are respected in the industry

Cons :

• Quite a bit of responsibility
  
  
• The work is frantic

Drug Inspector: Responsibilities and Duties

• In addition to inspecting all food, medical, and cosmetic establishments, a drug inspector also conducts inspections in distribution centres.
  
  
• In addition to monitoring and inspecting hygienic conditions at such units, drug inspectors are also involved in hygienic inspections.
  
  To ensure safety, quality, and hygiene, they have the authority to cancel the licence if they find any irregularities in the operation of these units.
  
  
• As well as collecting samples for bacterial and other chemical testing, the drug inspectors will also seize counterfeit products and destroy them.
  
  
• Reports were prepared by drug inspectors on the results of tests and the actions taken and reported to the authorities responsible.
  
  
• By working with local administration, he/she can ensure that related laws and standards are being implemented within the area of work.

A Drug Inspector's Career Prospects

In India, the pharmaceutical industry has grown rapidly in recent years. It is one of the largest businesses in the world and the most developed business in the country. Presently, India can manufacture almost all pharmaceuticals and medicines on its own.

A pharmaceutical industry that is ever-growing and gigantic requires a constant supply of drug inspectors to guarantee its integrity. Various government departments, including the Department of Health and Family Welfare, appoint drug inspectors.

Those who satisfy the eligibility requirements can pursue a career as a drug inspector, which is a lucrative and rewarding career.

Drug Inspector's Salary

In various state governments, a drug inspector is paid between Rs 50000 and Rs 60000 per year as a draw salary. There will be an annual salary increase based on the state you work for.

Private pharmaceutical companies typically pay drug inspectors salaries based upon the company they work for, their expertise and calibre, as well as their expertise. At the beginning of one's career, however, one can expect to earn Rs.30,000 to Rs.40,000.

Conclusion

I hope you liked our article on how to become a Drugs Inspector, if you have any comments or suggestions do share them in the comments below.

Government employees may also be able to take advantage of the benefits that come along with the job. Some jobs as drug inspectors are permanent. To ensure drug safety and quality standards, they have a great deal of authority and power.

Aside from this, they may also gain a great deal of respect within an industry such as pharmacy thanks to their knowledge of drugs, pharmaceutical products, food safety, hygiene and current events in their field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is becoming a drug inspector exam tough?

There is high competition among drug inspectors and the exam is not easy. Candidates must prepare thoroughly for the test. Although the paper is not that challenging, this field is very competitive.

Q2. What is the criteria for a drug inspector?

Candidates must have a cumulative score of 50% in physics, chemistry, and biology in 10+2. Candidates must have completed undergraduate programmes in pharmacy or relevant specializations. A candidate for the Drug Inspector examination must be at least 21 years old and at most 30 years old.

Q3. Which course is best for a drug inspector?

Obtaining a bachelor's degree in pharmacy is the first requirement for becoming a drug inspector. Once this is done, you will need to obtain a master's degree in pharmacy.

Q4. What is the power of a drug inspector?

According to the recent judgement of the Supreme Court, only the "Drugs Inspector" is responsible for investigating complaints, prosecuting offenders, and even arresting them for offences committed under Chapter IV of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940.