What is Pharmacy?
According to “Encyclopedia Britannica” pharmacy is the science dealing with the
collection, preparation and standardization of drugs. Pharmacist has to earn a
qualifying degree and prepare and dispense prescribed medications. They formerly
mixed and measured drug products from raw materials according to doctor’s
prescription and are still responsible for formulating, storing and providing
correct dosage of medicines.
Why to choose Pharmacy?
In a time where sickness fills the earth, pharmacist and other medical
authorities are needed more than ever to help the world to its best health
level.
Health care education has a significant role on health of community and on
improving services for patient. In most parts of the world, pharmacy education
enables pharmacist in dealing with safe and effective use of drugs, primary
healthcare, preventive medicine and health promotion. It emphasizes on research
and development (R&D) of pharmaceuticals and production of new drugs. The World
Health Organization (WHO) has also recognized the role of pharmacist in health
care system in a repot by WHO consultative group (meeting held in New Delhi in
1988).
Modern pharmacy is a rapidly developing and expanding professional field. It is
the third last health profession in our country. Specialists in pharmacy have
very good demand and can develop their careers not only as the consultant in
pharmacy shops but also as the employers of hospitals, specialized clinics or
health care centers as well as medical laboratories or research center.
Now-a-days pharmacists play new significant roles and shoulder more
responsibilities to help relieve the stress on current health care system.
Pharmacy is attracted as an occupation due to its dynamism, flexibility and
opportunity to deal with patients who have different health problems.
Pharmacists dispense prescribed medications to patients and offer advises on
their safe use. They work in pharmacies including groceries and drug stores as
well as they work in hospitals and clinics.
Job outlook
Pharmacy leads directly to a career which does not just involve lab work. It
seems to be a good career, fairly good pay and lots of job opportunities.
Employment of pharmacists is expected to increase by 25% from 2010-2020 i.e.
faster than the average for all occupations.
Why I choose this field…?
AND ONE WHO HAS SAVED THE LIFE OF A SINGLE MAN HAS DONE THE RIGHTEOUS DEED,AS HE
SAVED THE LIFE OF WHOLE MANKIND
It is a great honor to help dozens of people every day to sustain their hopes
for better to bring long-awaited relief and positive changes to their lives.
Why not to choose pharmacy?
Pharmacy was a promising career some years ago. It has slowly but surely slipped
down; added stress, added services, more paper work, less staff hours and it
gets worse as time goes.
As my advice, if anyone wants to pursue pharmacy as a career; DON’T. It’s not
worthy anymore.
The scope of pharmacy has slipped day by day especially in Pakistan, it has not
scope. Unemployment is common in people with this field. Market is flooded with
the pharmacists. Pharmacists get paid decently up until a few years ago, when
there were many jobs to choose from. However, the market is very competitive
these days because of the influence of new graduates from pharmacy programs
without enough positions to meet with supply.
The big problem with this field is unemployment as a woman said that she gave up
her job in past for some reason but now when she applied again, she can’t find a
job even when she has a licensed pharmacy degree with a BS and lots of
experience with last job at a clinic.
New pharmacy schools popping up all over the places resulting in glut of
pharmacist but I still believe that zero growth economy is to blame more than a
glut. Part timers going full time not being able to retire. Fewer stores are
opening this is all the result of an awful economy.
Conclusion:
Despite the critical situation about the pharmacy profession in Pakistan, rays
of hope are still alive in minds of many people like me that a day will come
when a pharmacist in Pakistan will serve the people in full and true sense of
pharmacy profession will develop, making the lives of humans more comfortable,
easier and better with respect to health mind and body. May this time reach
sooner…..Ameen!
Five “Rights” Concept:
Most health care professionals have learned the “five right” of safe medication
use:
The right patient
The right drug
The right time
The right dose
The right route of administration
Mariam Bari
Registered Pharmacist