From their creation in Baghdad in the 13th century to the Boots around every corner today, pharmacies have greatly evolved in practice and profession. Demand for pharmacies is never-ending, as it is an unfortunate reality that sickness comes to us all.

Pharmacists do not simply dispense prescribed medicines; they are experts in drugs and treatments, and are more than qualified to offer advice and guidance. The Pharmacy Act of 2007 has greatly modernised the law governing the regulation of pharmacists and pharmacy practice.

The pharmacy technician works alongside the pharmacist and assists in all aspects of the functioning of pharmacy services. The pharmacy technician is involved in the preparation, checking, storage and dispensing of drugs.

Education
Options for students looking to study Pharmacy at university in Ireland include honours degree courses in Pharmacy (level eight), and higher certificates in Pharmacy Technician Studies (levels six and seven). The CAO points required are typically over 550 for the degrees and considerably less for the higher certificate course. All candidates should have taken at least one science subject in their Leaving Cert.

Pharmacy students take subjects such as Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology. They also learn about the social and professional aspects of pharmacy practice.

On completion of the course, graduates will be aware of the uses and effects of drugs, and they will be skilled in formulation and dispensing. They will also have diagnostic skills and will be able to advise people on the medicines they need.

Students on a Pharmaceutical Technician Studies course take similar subjects, while their course may also include a period of work placement in a pharmacy practice. Other related CAO courses and careers that students with an interest in Pharmacy might consider include Medicine, Pharmaceutical Science and Chemistry.

Options After Qualification
After completion of a Pharmacy degree, graduates spend one year in an approved pharmaceutical institution, under the direct supervision of a registered tutoring pharmacist. The student then sits the Pharmaceutical Licence Examination, and if successful, can register as a practising pharmacist with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

Most Pharmacy graduates find positions in hospitals or in community (retail) pharmacies, initially as assistant pharmacists. Other Pharmacy graduates enter into research, often taking a postgraduate qualification in an area such as Pharmacology or Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Pharmaceutical research is particularly extensive in Ireland at the moment, offering many opportunities to Pharmacy graduates.

The Work
There are four main areas of pharmacy – community, hospital, industrial and administrative. Pharmacists don’t just read the labels on the jars and dole out the tablets; they are also involved in formulation and compounding, which means combining different medicines and ingredients to form correct doses and prescriptions.

Community pharmacy usually refers to working in a shop. People come in with prescriptions and you dispense medicines for them. A requirement in this sector is often assisting people in figuring out their illnesses. They also give out non-prescription medicines and must diagnose ailments, recognise symptoms and offer advice. Community pharmacists often have the ambition of owning their own practices and becoming self-employed.

The hospital pharmacist compounds and dispenses medicines for individual patients as well, but they are also involved in the bulk manufacture of medicines and sterile products. They work closely with doctors and surgeons.

If working with the public leaves you cold, you can aim to become an industrial or administrative pharmacist. Industrial pharmacists are usually engaged in research and development work, or in the administration or sales department of a manufacturing company. They develop new pharmacy products, or conduct tests on existing or updated medicines.

Administrative pharmacists are responsible for gaining drugs approval from regulatory agencies – in Ireland, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs – by collecting and submitting reports on various medications.

Pharmacy technicians usually work in retail pharmacies or hospitals and are involved in preparing and supplying medicine, weighing and measuring ingredients, checking stock levels, keeping records and dealing with public enquiries.

Personal Qualities & Work Environment
An interest and flair for science is beneficial. Organisational skills can plat a vital role in a pharmacist’s success.

The hours and work environment depend on the chosen area; they may work in a retail environment, in a hospital, or in a laboratory. The hours are usually regular, although shift-work and being ‘on-call’ can be required.

The Money
Student pharmacists earn approximately €20,000 a year, while newly qualified pharmacists in the hospital service start off on €30,000. Senior pharmacists or pharmacists with their own practices can earn upwards of €80,000 at the top of the scale.

The Jargon
Pharmacology: The science of drugs, including their compositions, uses, and effects
Dispensing: Distributing in portions or parts
Formulation: To prepare according to a specified formula
Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR): An undesirable effect that may be caused by a study drug.

Job Titles
Pharmacist
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmaceutical Researcher

Further Resources
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
18 Shrewsbury Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Phone: 01 218 4000
Web: www.pharmaceuticalsociety.ie
Email: info@pharmaceuticalsociety.ie
 
National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD)
3rd Floor Shelbourne House
Shelbourne Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Phone: 01 667 0760
Web: www.nacd.ie
Email: info@nacd.ie

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
Web: www.pharmacycareers.org.uk
Email: jeremy.holmes@rpsgb.org

Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland
Web: www.hpai.ie