Pakistan Public Service Commission Tests for

Pharmacists.















Subjects & Areas
Pharmaceutics;
Pharmacology;
Clinical Pharmacy;
Hospital Pharmacy;
Pharmacognosy (least);
Instrumental Chemistry
Forensic pharmacy
General knowledge
Quantitative Ability.


Pharmaceutics:
For written test and interview following parts of pharmaceutics should be thoroughly studied;
Basic pharmaceutics
Dosage forms
Pharmaceutical preparations (tablets, capsules, ointments, suppositories and etc.)
Dispensing pharmacy
Pharmacology:
Most of the questions are usually asked from pharmacology so you should have proper
knowledge different aspects of pharmacology. Following are few of the expected topics that
should be prepared well but ideally you should go through all pharmacology.
Basic pharmacology (Basic concepts like agonist, antagonist, tolerance, receptor and etc.)
Autonomic system ( with aspect of receptors and drugs targeting those receptors like
adrenergic and muscarinic receptors)
Chemotherapy (antimicrobial drugs, anti-cancer drugs and etc.)
Corticosteroids
Drugs acting on cardiovascular system (CVS), Respiratory system and GIT.


Clinical Pharmacy:
The focus of clinical pharmacy is the rational use of drugs and devices. Following chapter should
be thoroughly studied;
Basic concepts
Clinical trials
Drug interactions
Adverse drug reactions
List of antidotes
Management of poisoning
Diabetes
Diarrhoea
Heart failure
Hypertension
Hospital Pharmacy:
The main focus of hospital pharmacy is to perform the traditional as well as specialized roles of
pharmacists in the hospital. It would be better to study the following topics in depth;
Basic concepts
Roles of pharmacist (traditional and specialized)
Hospital formulary
Pharmacy and therapeutic committee
Drug information and poison control centre
Dispensing of drugs
IV admixtures
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
Pharmacoeconomic (formulas)
Drug utilization review (DUR)
And etc.
Pharmacognosy:
Pharmacognosy deals with the study of crude drugs. Its the subject in which pharmacist has least
interest. Read at-least once
Basic definitions
Extraction of drugs
Alkaloids
Glycosides
Rauwolfia, Ipecacuahna, Belladonna, Cinchona, Cinnamon, Digitalis, Senna, Aloe, Nux
vomica, Opium, Kurchi, Brahmi, Tulsi, Bael and Ephedra.

Forensic pharmacy:
Forensic pharmacy deals with rules and regulations of Pakistan regarding the drug use, import,
export, selling, and etc. you should learn the following topics in order to pass not only the written
test but also for the interview.
Basic definitions
The drug act 1976
Provisional drug rules
Advertising rules
The pharmacy act 1967
The dangerous drug act 1930
The poison act, 1919
Control of narcotic substances act, 1997

Books to study:
Following books should be consulted in order to get optimum credit in a written test and
interview.
1. Appleton & Langes Review of Pharmacy 7th ed. Author: Gary D. Hall
2. Comprehensive Pharmacy Review (CPR)
3. Comprehensive Pharmacy Review for NAPLEX 8
th
edition
4. MCQs in Pharmacy Practice by Lilian M. Azzopardi
5. Katzung & Trevors Pharmacology Examination and Board Review, 10th Edition
6. British National Formulary (BNF) 65
th
edition
7. Pharmaceutical Calculations, Twelfth Edition, by Howard C. Ansell


Remember this criteria does not mean that your test and interview will be only for the stated
topics and subjects. You must prepare yourself well throughout all the subjects of Pharm D.
Good Luck..!




Salman Khan
Pharm.D
Salmankust1@gmail.com