Apollo Pharmacy Interview Questions and Answers for B.Pharma

Are you a B.Pharm fresher preparing for an interview at Apollo Pharmacy in 2025? You’ve come to the right place! This guide features the Top 30 Apollo Pharmacy Interview Questions with Answers for B.Pharma Graduates, specially curated to help you stand out in both HR and technical rounds.

Whether you’re a first-time job seeker or brushing up your interview skills, these Apollo Pharmacy Interview Questions and Answers for B.Pharm Freshers (2025 Updated) will give you the confidence and clarity to tackle any question. From prescription basics to handling rude customers, we’ve covered it all.

Get interview-ready with the most asked Apollo Pharmacy Interview Questions for B.Pharm Students, along with expert tips and real-world examples to leave a lasting impression.

1. Tell me about yourself.

Example Answer: “Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I recently completed my Bachelor of Pharmacy from [Your College Name], affiliated with [University Name]. During my academic journey, I developed a strong foundation in pharmacology, drug interactions, dosage calculations, and patient counseling.

I completed internships at [Hospital/Pharmacy Name if applicable], where I gained hands-on experience in dispensing medications, maintaining prescription records, and assisting customers with queries — which helped me develop good communication and attention to detail.

I’m particularly interested in joining Apollo Pharmacy because of its reputation for quality patient care and professional growth. I’m passionate about contributing to health services by ensuring patients receive accurate information and medications, and I’m eager to apply my academic knowledge in a real-world pharmacy setting.

Outside academics, I’m disciplined, patient-focused, and I enjoy learning about new medicines and health trends. I believe my skills and enthusiasm make me a good fit for this role.”

2. Why do you want to join Apollo Pharmacy?

Answer: “I want to join Apollo Pharmacy because it is one of the most trusted and leading pharmacy chains in India, known for maintaining high standards in healthcare and customer service. As a B.Pharm graduate, I believe Apollo provides the ideal platform to apply my knowledge of medicines, patient care, and prescription handling in a real-time retail setting.

What attracts me most is the company’s professional work culture, training programs, and opportunities for growth. I’m particularly impressed with Apollo’s focus on quality assurance, digital pharmacy services, and commitment to ethical practices. Working here will allow me to not only serve customers effectively but also continuously learn and grow in the field of pharmacy.

I believe Apollo Pharmacy will help me start my professional journey in the right direction while contributing meaningfully to healthcare delivery.“

3. What is a prescription?

Explanation: A prescription is a formal written or electronic instruction given by a licensed medical practitioner (such as a doctor) that authorizes a pharmacist to provide a specific medication to a patient.

📌 Key Elements of a Prescription:

1. Patient Information – Name, age, gender, and sometimes weight.
   
   
2. Date of Issue – When the prescription was written.
   
   
3. Drug Name – Generic or brand name of the medicine.
   
   
4. Dosage and Strength – How much and how strong the medicine is.
   
   
5. Route of Administration – Oral, topical, injection, etc.
   
   
6. Frequency and Duration – How often and for how many days.
   
   
7. Doctor’s Signature & Registration Number

4. Explain OTC drugs with examples.

Answer: OTC (Over-The-Counter) drugs are medicines that can be sold directly to consumers without a doctor’s prescription. These drugs are considered safe and effective for use by the general public when used as directed.

📌 Key Features of OTC Drugs:

• No prescription required
  
• Safe for self-medication when used as instructed
  
• Available in retail pharmacies, medical stores, and even online
  
• Lower risk of serious side effects when used correctly

🧪 Examples of Common OTC Drugs:

5. What are Schedule H drugs?

Explanation: Schedule H drugs are a category of prescription-only medicines listed under Schedule H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 in India. These drugs must not be sold without a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner (RMP).

📌 Key Features of Schedule H Drugs:

1. ❌ Not available over-the-counter (OTC)
   
2. 📄 Prescription mandatory for purchase and dispensing
   
3. 🧪 Used for treatment of serious medical conditions
   
4. 📦 Label must carry warning:
   “Schedule H drug — Warning: To be sold by retail on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only.”
   
5. 👩‍⚕️ Misuse can lead to adverse reactions, resistance, or even legal consequences

🧪 Examples of Schedule H Drugs:

6. What are Schedule X drugs?

Explanation: Schedule X drugs are a special category of narcotic and psychotropic substances listed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 in India. These drugs have a high potential for abuse and addiction, and hence are regulated under both:

• • The Drugs and Cosmetics Act
  • The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act
    
    

📌 Key Features of Schedule X Drugs:

1. 🔐 Strictest control category of drugs in India
   
2. ❌ Cannot be sold without a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner
   
3. 📄 Prescription must be retained for 2 years by the pharmacist
   
4. 🧾 Special license required for manufacturers, sellers, and stockists
   
5. 🚨 Misuse can lead to legal action, imprisonment, or license cancellation

🧪 Examples of Schedule X Drugs:

7. What is the difference between generic and branded medicines?

Answer:

8. How do you check medicine expiry?

Answer: To check a medicine’s expiry, I follow these steps:

1. 🔍 Look for the “EXP” or “Expiry Date” printed on the medicine strip, bottle, or box — usually near the manufacturing date (MFG).
   
2. 📅 Read the format carefully:
   
   • Most commonly written as MM/YYYY (e.g., 08/2025)
     
   • The medicine is valid until the last day of that month (e.g., 31st August 2025)
     
3. ❌ If the current date has passed the expiry month and year, I do not use or dispense the medicine.
   
4. 📦 Also check for:
   
   • Batch number
     
   • Storage conditions
     
   • Any visible damage, discoloration, or smell which may indicate degradation

📌 Example:
If the expiry is 11/2024, the medicine is usable until 30th November 2024. From 1st December 2024, it is considered expired and must be discarded safely.

9. What is FIFO in pharmacy?

Explanation: FIFO stands for First In, First Out — a stock management technique used in pharmacies and inventory systems.

📌 Explanation:

• **FIFO ensures that the medicines which were stocked first (i.e., older stock) are sold or dispensed first.
  
  
• It helps avoid wastage due to expiry and maintains product freshness and safety.

10. How do you handle an expired medicine in the store?

Answer: “If I find an expired medicine in the store, I follow the proper pharmaceutical guidelines to ensure safety and compliance:”

📋 Step-by-Step Process:

1. 🔍 Identify and Separate:
   
   
   • Check expiry regularly while managing stock.
     
     
   • Immediately remove expired medicines from the shelf or storage.
     
     
2. 🛑 Label Clearly:
   
   
   • Mark as “Expired – Not for Sale”
     
     
   • Store them in a separate box or designated area for expired drugs.
     
     
3. 🗃️ Record Details:
   
   
   • Maintain a log with name, batch number, quantity, and expiry date.
     
     
   • Prepare an expired drug return form if required.
     
     
4. 🔄 Return to Supplier (if allowed):
   
   
   • Many suppliers take back expired stock for proper disposal.
     
     
   • Ensure paperwork is complete for returns or claims.
     
     
5. 🔥 Dispose Safely (if not returnable):
   
   
   • Follow government or pharmacy disposal guidelines (e.g., Bio-medical Waste Rules).
     
     
   • Never flush medicines or throw them in regular dustbins.
     
     
6. 📦 Update Inventory:
   
   
   • Remove expired stock from the system to avoid accidental sale.
     
     
   • Helps maintain accurate and clean inventory.
     
     

11. Explain Drug-Drug Interaction with example.

Explanation: Drug-Drug Interaction (DDI) occurs when two or more drugs react with each other, changing how one or both of the drugs work.
This interaction can either:

• Increase the effect (causing side effects or toxicity),
  
  
• Decrease the effect (reducing effectiveness), or
  
  
• Cause new, unwanted effects.

📌 Types of Drug-Drug Interactions:

1. Additive Effect
   → Combined effect = Sum of both
   Example: Paracetamol + Ibuprofen for pain relief
   
   
2. Synergistic Effect
   → Combined effect > Sum of both
   Example: Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid (Clavulanic acid increases amoxicillin effectiveness)
   
   
3. Antagonistic Effect
   → One drug reduces the effect of the other
   Example: Antacid reduces absorption of antibiotics like tetracycline
   
   
4. Altered Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, or Excretion
   Example:
   
   
   • Rifampicin induces liver enzymes, reducing the effect of oral contraceptives
     
     
   • Warfarin + aspirin = increased bleeding risk

12. How do you counsel a diabetic patient?

Answer: When counseling a diabetic patient, I focus on explaining their medicines, monitoring routines, and lifestyle changes. The goal is to help them understand the importance of controlling blood sugar and preventing complications.”

📋 Step-by-Step Counseling Approach:

1. 🩺 Medication Guidance:

• Explain how and when to take antidiabetic medicines (e.g., Metformin, Insulin).
  
  
• Stress the importance of not skipping doses.
  
  
• Warn about hypoglycemia symptoms (e.g., sweating, dizziness, confusion) especially if on insulin or sulfonylureas.
  
  

2. 🧃 Diet & Nutrition Advice:

• Recommend a balanced low-sugar, high-fiber diet.
  
  
• Advise avoiding sweets, fried food, and white rice/flour.
  
  
• Encourage small, frequent meals and hydration.
  
  

3. 🏃 Lifestyle & Exercise Tips:

• Suggest regular walking or light exercise after meals.
  
  
• Emphasize weight management and avoiding smoking or alcohol.
  
  

4. 🧪 Monitoring and Follow-up:

• Explain the use of a glucometer to check blood sugar at home.
  
  
• Encourage regular blood sugar tests, HbA1c checks every 3–6 months.
  
  
• Guide on foot care to prevent diabetic ulcers.
  
  

5. ⚠️ When to Seek Medical Help:

• Inform about signs of high or low sugar and when to see a doctor.
  
  
• Advise on not stopping medications without consulting the doctor.

13. What is bioavailability?

Explanation: It tells how much and how fast a drug gets absorbed into the bloodstream and becomes available to have its effect.

🔍 Key Points:

• Only the absorbed portion of the drug can show its therapeutic effect.
  
  
• Bioavailability is 100% for intravenous (IV) drugs.
  
  
• For oral drugs, it is usually less than 100% due to:
  
  
  • Incomplete absorption
    
    
  • First-pass metabolism (liver breaking down the drug before it enters systemic circulation)
    
    

14. Explain first-pass metabolism.

Explanation: First-pass metabolism (also called first-pass effect) refers to the initial breakdown of a drug in the liver (and sometimes intestines) before it reaches the systemic circulation when taken orally.

🔍 Key Points:

• Happens after oral administration.
  
  
• The drug is absorbed from the intestine, then passes through the portal vein to the liver.
  
  
• In the liver, enzymes may break down part of the drug.
  
  
• As a result, only a reduced amount of the drug enters the bloodstream.

15. What is pharmacovigilance?

Explanation: Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities related to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems.

🔍 Key Objectives:

1. Identify adverse drug reactions (ADRs)
   
   
2. Improve patient safety
   
   
3. Ensure drug efficacy and safety over time
   
   
4. Support regulatory decisions (e.g., drug bans, warnings, dosage adjustments)

🌍 Global Organizations:

• WHO – Maintains global pharmacovigilance data (Uppsala Monitoring Centre, Sweden)
  
  
• CDSCO (India) – Runs PvPI (Pharmacovigilance Programme of India)
  
  
• US FDA – Monitors through MedWatch

16. What is the normal storage temperature for tablets?

Answer: Room temperature is the normal storage condition for most tablets unless otherwise specified.

• General range:
  
  15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F)
  
  
• Permissible excursion range:
  
  Up to 30°C (86°F) for short periods

📘 Example:

• Paracetamol tablets should be stored at below 30°C in a dry place, away from sunlight and moisture.
  
  
• Effervescent tablets or coated tablets may require stricter control due to sensitivity to humidity.
  
  

17. How do you handle a rude customer?

Example Answer: “As a pharmacy professional, I understand that customers may be rude or upset due to stress, illness, or long wait times. In such situations, I would stay calm, listen patiently, and avoid taking it personally.

I would try to understand their concern and respond politely, offering solutions within my limits. If needed, I would involve my supervisor to ensure the issue is resolved professionally.

My goal is to maintain a respectful environment, de-escalate the situation, and still provide the best service possible.”

🧠 Key Points to Include:

• Stay calm and composed
  
  
• Show empathy and listen actively
  
  
• Never argue or raise your voice
  
  
• Focus on problem-solving
  
  
• Know when to escalate to manager/supervisor
  
  
• Maintain professionalism always

18. How many types of insulin are there?

Explanation:

19. What is GPP (Good Pharmacy Practice)?

Explanation: Good Pharmacy Practice refers to the set of quality standards and ethical principles that pharmacists must follow to ensure safe, effective, and responsible use of medicines.

It is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and adopted by national pharmacy councils like PCI (Pharmacy Council of India).

🎯 Key Objectives of GPP:

1. Ensure patient safety
   
   
2. Improve health outcomes
   
   
3. Promote rational use of medicines
   
   
4. Maintain professionalism and ethics
   
   
5. Ensure quality service and information delivery

20. What are antibiotics?

Answer: Antibiotics are medications used to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause infections in the human body.

They are not effective against viral infections like cold, flu, or COVID-19.

🧪 How Do Antibiotics Work?

Antibiotics work by:

• Killing bacteria directly (bactericidal)
  
  
• Stopping bacteria from multiplying (bacteriostatic)

21. Why should antibiotic course completed fully?

Explanation: When a patient doesn’t complete the full course of antibiotics, some bacteria may survive and adapt — leading to antibiotic resistance, which makes future infections harder to treat.

⚠️ Key Reasons to Complete the Course:

1. Kills All Bacteria
   Even if you feel better, not all bacteria are dead. Stopping early leaves stronger bacteria alive.
   
   
2. Prevents Relapse
   Incomplete treatment can cause the infection to return, often more severe than before.
   
   
3. Avoids Resistance
   Incomplete usage allows bacteria to mutate, making future antibiotics less effective.
   
   
4. Ensures Maximum Effectiveness
   The full course is scientifically designed to maintain therapeutic levels in the body.
   
   

22. What is the role of a pharmacist in patient care?

Answer: “As a pharmacist, my role in patient care includes ensuring that patients receive the right medication with the correct dosage and instructions.

I would counsel them on how to take medicines properly, check for any drug interactions, and monitor for side effects.

Beyond dispensing, I aim to educate patients to improve their adherence and support their overall recovery.”

🩺 Key Roles of a Pharmacist in Patient Care:

23. Explain the term pharmacokinetics.

Explanation: “Pharmacokinetics is the study of how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body.

It helps in determining the correct dose, frequency, and route of administration to ensure safety and effectiveness of the medication.”

💊 ADME: Key Components of Pharmacokinetics

24. What is a narcotic drug?

Explanation: A narcotic drug is a substance that dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces sleep, but in higher doses can lead to stupor, coma, or addiction.

In medical terms, narcotics are typically used as strong painkillers (analgesics), while in legal terms, they often refer to addictive drugs regulated under law.

💊 Examples of Narcotic Drugs:

25. What is sublingual administration?

Explanation: Sublingual administration is the process of placing a drug under the tongue, where it dissolves and gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the tissues in the mouth.

🧪 How It Works:

• The area under the tongue has a rich blood supply.
  
  
• The drug bypasses the digestive system and liver metabolism (first-pass effect).
  
  
• This results in faster onset of action compared to oral tablets.
  
  

✅ Example Drugs:

26. How do you maintain records in pharmacy?

Answer: Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records is a critical responsibility of a pharmacist to ensure legal compliance, inventory control, patient safety, and effective pharmacy operations.

🗂️ Types of Records Maintained in Pharmacy:

27. What are vitamins?

Explanation: Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential for normal growth, metabolism, and overall health. They are required in small quantities and must usually be obtained from food or supplements, as the body cannot produce them in sufficient amounts.

🍽️ Sources of Vitamins:

28. What is your salary expectation?

Example Answer: “As a fresher, my primary goal is to gain experience, enhance my skills, and contribute to the organization.

I am open to the salary as per the company’s standards for this position and industry norms.

I trust Apollo Pharmacy offers a fair package for fresh graduates, and I’m excited about the opportunity.”

29. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Example Answer: “In the next 5 years, I see myself becoming a skilled and experienced pharmacist with a strong understanding of both clinical knowledge and customer service.

I aim to grow within Apollo Pharmacy, possibly taking on supervisory or training responsibilities, contributing to improved healthcare delivery and patient counseling.

I’m also keen to pursue additional certifications or training that will help me stay updated with evolving medical practices.”

30. Do you have any questions for us?

Example: “Yes, could you please tell me about the training process and growth opportunities within Apollo Pharmacy?”

Preparing for an Apollo Pharmacy interview as a B.Pharma fresher doesn’t have to be stressful. With this comprehensive set of Top Interview Questions, you’re well-equipped to face your interview with confidence and clarity.

We hope this guide on the Most Asked Apollo Pharmacy Interview Questions for B.Pharm Students helped you understand what to expect and how to respond professionally. Remember, preparation and clarity are key to success.

For more pharmacy, medical, or healthcare interview preparation tips, stay tuned and explore similar resources updated for 2025 and beyond.

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