HYDERABAD: The Covid-19 pandemic has given big push to pharma courses with over 95% seats getting filled in the first phase of engineering, agriculture, medical common entrance test (Eamcet).
According to figures released by Eamcet convenor Navin Mittal, 95% seats in B Pharmacy, 99% seats in Pharm D and 100% seats in pharmaceutical engineering and biotechnology were filled in the first phase.
Until a few years back, Pharm D graduates were seen protesting against lack of opportunities in the industry. Thanks to the pandemic, many pharma companies, hospitals and insurance firms are now making a beeline to recruit pharma graduates.
“The pandemic has definitely changed the perspective towards pharma courses with more number of students coming forward to pursue them. Before the pandemic, starting salary for pharma graduates was as low as Rs 8,000. Today, the demand for pharma graduates is very high with companies recruiting them for a starting salary of Rs 20,000,” said K Ramdass, president, Telangana Pharmacy Colleges Association.
Before the pandemic, many pharmacy seats were going vacant due to poor demand for the course. This year, total 73,071 candidates had qualified in Eamcet for pharmacy courses of which 14,384 attended certificate verification. Of the 14,384 candidates, 13,646 exercised options and 8,394 were allotted seats. Total 5,252 candidates had exercised their options but were not allotted seats.
“Candidates have to pay the tuition fee on or before December 10 to confirm the allotted seats.
The candidate has to report at the allotted college after final phase of counselling between December 18 and December 20,” said Navin Mittal, Eamcet convenor and commissioner of technical education in Telangana. Another round of counselling is expected to be held to fill up the remaining 413 vacant pharma seats.
