Is a pharmacist a salesperson in a pharmacy? Does he or she just dispense drugs and work with the cash register? Contrary to stereotypes, a pharmacist is a qualified person with a medical degree. He understands medicines and can help with their selection, and sometimes even participates in the development of medicines.
Who is a pharmacist and what does he or she do?
Every year new medicines appear on the shelves of pharmacies. Employees need to know not only their names, but also their uses, prescriptions, side effects, and dosages. Pharmacists check the quality of medications and make sure storage conditions are met. If necessary, the pharmacy staff can also provide first aid.
The pharmacist is involved not only in the process of selling drugs, but also in other stages: research, manufacturing, clinical trials, and distribution. Pharmacists may work in laboratories, chemical plants, manufacturing company offices, and act as intermediaries between the drug company and the pharmacy.
Are a pharmacist and a pharmacist the same thing?
Both professionals have a medical degree and can work in a pharmacy. However, there are still differences.
A pharmacist has a specialized secondary education, enough to graduate from a medical school or college. He can sell medicine, but he does not hold a managerial position.
The pharmacist has a higher education and qualifications not lower than those of a doctor. He may serve as a pharmacy director and is more likely to be involved in research and drug manufacturing than a pharmacist.
Advantages and disadvantages of being a pharmacist
Pros
Stable demand for specialists. The production and sale of drugs is an area that won’t go out of style.
There is a choice of place of work. You don’t have to get a job in a pharmacy, you can do research or distribution
Cons
High responsibility.
Constant communication with customers requires patience and stress resistance.
Where to study?
Leading universities around the world, including non-medical ones, have specialized programs in this field. Approaches to pharmacy education differ from country to country.
USA
In the US, pharmacist is a prestigious profession. He or she not only sells drugs, but also prepares prescription drugs and counsels patients. To become a licensed pharmacist in the United States, you must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree: Pharm.D. Training takes six years: two years of undergraduate training and four years of professional study.
Some schools do not accept international students. Private schools tend to offer more places, unlike public schools. A master’s degree is often sufficient to work in the pharmaceutical industry.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, too, the training of pharmacists is thorough. Training takes at least five years. First the candidate must obtain an MPharm degree, and then within a year he/she will do a traineeship, acquiring the necessary practical skills. After that, you need to be approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council (a special body regulating the pharmacy profession) in order to start working.
Canada
The first step on the path to a pharmacy license is to complete an undergraduate or doctoral program at one of the ten Canadian universities. It then requires practical experience through an internship, proof of proficiency in French or English, and state certification by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).
The QS World Ranking 2021 – Pharmacy & Pharmacology published a list of universities with the best programs in pharmacy and pharmacology. The first 15 lines were taken by universities in the UK (5), USA (4), Australia (2), Canada (1), Netherlands (1), Singapore (1) and Japan (1).