India VS Australia: The Best Country For Pharmacy Practice in 2025
Both countries, India and Australia, offer unique advantages and challenges to pharmacists who are wondering how to build their pharmacy career. Making an informed decision about choosing a country can be crucial for professional growth. This guide provides an in-depth comparison of pharmacy practice in India and Australia, covering education, licensing, salary, job opportunities, immigration, and more.
What is pharmacy practice?
Pharmacy practice encompasses the roles, responsibilities, and functions of a licensed pharmacist abroad who delivers healthcare services. This includes dispensing medications, counseling patients, collaborating with healthcare professionals, and ensuring medication safety and efficacy. Pharmacy practice varies globally depending on the national regulations, scope of practice, and healthcare infrastructure.
Overview of Pharmacy Practice in Indian & Australia
Pharmacy profession in India:
Pharmacy practice in India is a respected healthcare profession with a wide presence in community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, academia, and the pharmaceutical industry. However, challenges such as limited clinical roles and lower salary scales persist in many regions.
Key Highlights:
- Dispensing and retail-focused roles
- Clinical pharmacy is growing, especially in private hospitals
- D. Pharm, B. Pharm, M. Phar,m and Pharm. D are the common qualifications
- Regulatory body: Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)
Pharmacy Profession in Australia
Australia offers a more advanced and structured pharmacy practice and environment. Pharmacists are deeply integrated into the healthcare system and enjoy a broad scope in clinical and patient-centric roles.
Key Highlights:
- Roles include community, hospital, aged care, and consultant pharmacies
- More concentrated on patient safety, medication review, vaccination, and prescribing (in some states)
- Accredited training and registration with AHPRA are required
- Strong demand for pharmacists across the regional and metro areas
What are the education and licensing requirements for India vs. Australia?
Criteria
India
Australia
Education Pathways
- D. Pharm (2 years)
- B. Pharm (4 years)
- Pharm.D (6 years)
- Pharm or M. Pharm from an accredited university
- OPRA Exam (for overseas graduates)
Licensing Authority
Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)
Pharmacy Board of Australia (via AHPRA)
Licensing Process
- Register with the State Pharmacy Council
- No national exam required
- Complete supervised practice/internship
- Pass Intern Written & Oral Exams
Special Notes
Licensing is decentralized across states
Registration requires assessment through OPRA + internship, + board exams
What are the Salary and job opportunities?
criteria
India
Australia
Average Salary
₹2.5 - ₹6 LPA
AUD $70,000 - $100,000+ annually
Job Settings
Retail, hospitals, pharma companies
Community, hospital, aged care, consulting
Growth Opportunities
Moderate
High (Rural demand, clinical roles, specializations)
Australia clearly offers higher earning potential and more diverse work settings, especially for skilled migrants.
What are the working conditions and scope of practice in India and Australia?
India
In India, the traditional role of pharmacists has been largely confined to dispensing medications and managing inventory in community pharmacies or hospital dispensaries. Most pharmacists are employed in retail settings where the focus is on filling prescriptions, managing stock, and providing basic patient care.
Australia
Australia’s pharmacy profession offers a highly developed and patient-centered scope of practice. Pharmacists are key members of the healthcare team and are involved in clinical decision-making, health promotion, and medication safety initiatives.
Comparison table: working conditions and scope of practice
aspect
India
Australia
Primary Work Settings
Retail pharmacies, hospital dispensaries
Community pharmacies, hospitals, aged care, consulting, and remote services
Clinical Involvement
Limited; mostly dispensing. Pharm.Ds may have clinical roles in private hospitals
High; includes medication reviews, chronic care, immunizations, and clinical interventions
Patient Interaction
Basic counseling, usually limited
Extensive interaction and ongoing patient care responsibilities
Prescribing Authority
Not allowed
Limited prescribing rights in collaborative models (varies by state)
Workplace Structure
Often unregulated hours and workloads
Structured work environment, clear job roles, safe staffing levels
Continuing Education
Optional; varies by region
Mandatory CPD requirements for license renewal
Professional Recognition
Moderate; not fully integrated into the clinical healthcare team
High; pharmacists are seen as essential, especially in rural and primary care settings
What is the immigration and work visa process?
For India:
No visa needed, graduates can begin practice after registration
For Australia:
Overseas pharmacists must go through:
- Skills assessment by APC
- OPRA Exam (from 2025)
- Visa options: Skilled independent visa (Subclass 189), Regional state sponsorship visa (subclass 491), state sponsorship visa (subclass 190), Employer sponsorship visa (subclass 482,407), etc
Australia includes pharmacists in its skilled occupation list, making immigration pathways accessible for qualified pharmacists.
Growth, Research, and continuing Development
- India: Growth in academia and the pharmaceutical industry. Continuing education is optional in most states.
- Australia: Emphasis on Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Pharmacists engage in lifelong learning, research, and specialized certifications. Opportunities to move into consulting, academia, or regulatory roles.
Pros and cons - A comparison table
Aspect
India
Australia
Salary
Lower
High
Job Availability
High competition
High demand
Scope of Practice
Limited
Broad & clinical
Work Environment
Retail-focused
Patient-centric
Licensing
Easier
Structured, rigorous
Career Growth
Slower
Diverse pathways
Cost of Living
Low
High
Immigration Barriers
Requires exams & visa
Final Thoughts:
If you are looking for international exposure, higher pay, and clinical career advancement, Australia is undoubtedly the better option for pharmacy practice. It offers a dynamic healthcare environment, demand for skilled pharmacists, and clear migration pathways.
However, if you prefer staying close to home or are just beginning your career, India provides accessible entry into pharmacy practice and opportunities in retail, manufacturing, and research sectors.
Elite Expertise is a trusted online education platform supporting internationally trained pharmacists in their journey toward registration in countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and the USA. With a strong focus on OPRA Exam preparation, Elite Expertise combines expert guidance with real-world learning to help candidates succeed.
