Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS)

Jumla, Karnali, Nepal

Master in Pharmacy (Mpharm)

Master in Pharmacy (Mpharm)

Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm) Overview

  1. Introduction

The Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm) program at Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS) is a two-year postgraduate course designed to develop advanced knowledge, research skills, and professional competencies in specialized areas of pharmacy practice.

 

Majors Offered

1. Pharmacognosy

  • Focuses on the scientific study of medicinal plants and natural products.
  • Emphasizes the identification, extraction, isolation, characterization, and quality control of herbal medicines.
  • Develops skills for innovation in herbal drug formulation and commercialization, particularly utilizing the rich biodiversity of the Karnali region.

2. Clinical Pharmacy

  • Centers on the safe and effective use of medicines in clinical settings.
  • Trains students in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical trials, adverse drug reaction monitoring, and therapeutic drug monitoring.
  • Encourages critical evaluation of drug therapy to promote rational prescribing and improved patient care outcomes.

 

Program Highlights

  • Research-Focused Learning: Each student engages in independent research projects addressing local and national health needs, especially focusing on herbal resources and rational medicine use.
  • Innovative Curriculum: The curriculum integrates coursework, hands-on laboratory work, and clinical rotations to bridge theory with practice.
  • Community and Industry Relevance: Students are trained to meet the pharmaceutical and healthcare challenges of Nepal, particularly in underserved and rural settings.
  • Herbal Medicine Emphasis: The program emphasizes herbal drug discovery and development, leveraging Karnali’s unique medicinal plant diversity to create opportunities for economic and healthcare advancement.

 

Career Opportunities

  • Graduates of the M. Pharm program will be equipped to pursue careers as:
  • Clinical Pharmacologists
  • Herbal Drug Researchers and Developers
  • Pharmaceutical Scientists
  • Quality Assurance Officers
  • Academicians and Educators
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialists
  • Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Experts

 

Research 

  1. Focus Areas
  2. Equipments available
  • Pharmacognostical studies of indigenous medicinal plants
  • Herbal drug standardization and quality control
  • Clinical drug evaluation and rational use of medicines
  • Pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction reporting
  • Development of herbal formulations and nutraceuticals
  • Translational research in pharmacotherapy

General Laboratory Equipment


 

  • Analytical balance
  • Digital weighing balance
  • Benchtop pH meters
  • Digital pH meter
  • Conductivity meter
  • Reverse osmosis (RO) water filter
  • Centrifuge machine
  • Water bath
  • Hot air oven
  • Drying oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Muffle furnace
  • Stirring plate with heating system
  • Orbital linear laboratory flask shaker
  • Heating mantles
  • Digital rotary evaporator apparatus
    • UV-Visible spectrophotometer

 

Chemical and Analytical Instruments

  • Flame photometer
  • TLC chamber and plates
  • TLC UV chamber
  • Distillation unit
  • Reflux apparatus
  • Portable ATC refractometer
  • Karl Fischer moisture titrator
  • Electrochemical sensor

 

Pharmacognosy and Herbal Processing Equipment

 

  • Microscope (compound and projection)
  • Plant specimen samples (dried/crude drugs)
  • Herbarium preparation equipment
  • Maceration extraction units
  • Herbs grinder / powder mill grinding machine

    Biotechnology and Advanced Instruments

 

  • Gel electrophoresis apparatus
  • Biobase water tank

 

Pharmacology Equipment: Analgesiometer (Hot Plate, Tail Flick)

Glassware and Accessories: Chemical glassware (beakers, burettes, pipettes, flasks, etc.)

 

Unique Advantage

Operating in Jumla, a remote, high-altitude region rich in medicinal plant diversity, KAHS’s M. Pharm program provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage in real-world research on native herbal resources and address critical gaps in clinical pharmacy practice in Nepal.

 

Unique Location Advantage

School of Pharmacy, KAHS, is proudly situated in Jumla, one of Nepal’s highest and most remote mountainous regions.


This makes it the first pharmacy school in Nepal (probably also in world) to operate at such a high altitude, offering students unparalleled opportunities to explore indigenous herbal resources, address rural healthcare challenges, and pioneer pharmacy education in extreme environments.

 

Current Faculty

Prof. Bijay Aryal, PhD, PostDoc (Assistant Dean, School of Pharmacy)

Associate Prof. Ramesh Raj Padhya, M. Pharm

Assistant Professor Dirgha Raj Joshi, PhD, PostDoc

Lecturer Nisha Adhikari, M. Pharm

Sandip Shah, B. Pharm-Lab Manager