From pills to Python: BPharmacy education gets a new formula in Telangana

The BPharmacy curriculum in Telangana has been revamped to introduce technology-driven subjects such as Python, artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analysis, alongside healthcare psychology and communication skills.

Hyderabad: From pill formulation to Python and AI, the undergraduate pharmacy education in the State has a new formula that will enable students to acquire new technology skills during their course of study.

Both Python (a foundation for computational thinking) and AI subjects have been introduced in the first year first semester of BPharmacy programme. These subjects are aimed at preparing students for coding and AI.

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Data Analysis and Biostatistics will be offered as optional subjects in the second semester to assist students in data analysis. Subjects, including machine learning (third semester), AI in pharmaceutical sciences (sixth semester), AI in clinical applications (seventh semester) and ethical AI in pharmacy (eighth semester) have also been incorporated from the 2026-27 academic year.

Further, to understand the mental state of patients and develop the skills to communicate with them effectively, healthcare psychology and communication skills have been integrated into undergraduate pharmacy education. Core subjects such as human anatomy, pharmaceutics, and pharmaceutical inorganic chemistry will remain part of the curriculum.

The Pharmacy Council of India proposed the new curriculum, which has recently been approved by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU)-Hyderabad and colleges have been communicated regarding the changes.

According to JNTU-Hyderabad officials, the BPharmacy curriculum has been redesigned to ensure students receive practical and industry-relevant skills. With the addition of new subjects such as data science, Python and AI, students can look forward to openings in fields such as pharma data science, clinical research, AI, and drug discovery.

From this academic year, students can choose between industrial or clinical pharmacy specializations based on their interests from the fifth semester. They can also select from 30 elective courses, including subjects like computer-aided drug design, pharmaceutical automation, and robotic pharmacy.

While new subjects have been added, the university has reduced the academic load on students by bringing down the number of credits from 203 to 193 for the award of a BPharmacy degree. To ensure that students gain practical experience in the pharmaceutical industry or hospitals, internships have been made compulsory, with one stint of 120 hours and another of 240 hours.

Another major change is the introduction of a multiple entry and multiple exit system. A diploma will be awarded to students who exit after second year, an advanced diploma after three years, and a BPharmacy degree upon completing four years.

While having backlogs is permissible up to the third year, university officials said students must clear all subjects from previous years to be promoted to the fourth year (seventh semester).