Pharmacy is an important part of the medical field and can be considered as an intermediary between the patient and the physician. It involves the purchase and preparation of drugs at pharmacies or health food stores. In the United States, pharmacists are licensed by the state to dispense medications to patients in pharmacies.

The scope of pharmacy is vast. It includes the manufacture, preparation, administration, distribution, storage and sale of therapeutic and health products. The main functions of pharmacists in the healthcare sector are to prescribe medicines, conduct drug related research and evaluation, provide counseling to healthcare professionals, and educate patients about healthcare management. A pharmacy technician is responsible for providing pharmacy support to healthcare practitioners in the process of providing medical services. Some other duties of pharmacy technicians in a hospital include preparation and administration of intravenous medicines, taking electrocardiograms, preparing patient records, drawing blood, examining patients’ medical histories and the history of other diseases, administering anesthetics and analgesics, preparing and maintaining equipment used in the treatment of patients, preparing sutures, counting pills, packaging and labeling medicines, etc.

Opportunities

There are pharmacy technicians who also provide medical advice to pharmacists in community pharmacies. They can perform tasks such as filling out prescriptions, assisting pharmacists during transactions, answering calls, tracking and recording prescriptions, stocking shelves, and retrieving lost prescriptions. Many pharmacy technicians also specialize in specific areas such as pharmaceutical call center, in patient care management, or in laboratory pharmacy. Other opportunities for pharmacy technicians exist in the fields of nursing, radiology, pathology, nursing and public health.

Pharmacy technicians can obtain employment in hospitals, long-term care facilities, pharmacy departments of healthcare providers, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers, the military and the pharmaceutical industry. Most pharmacists start by being employed in hospitals where they initially cover the floor area of pharmacy departments. This enables them to get practical experience and knowledge in different aspects of pharmacy work. After gaining further experience within the hospital, many pharmacists also find work opportunities in long-term care facilities or drug therapy clinics. Many pharmacists also enter into the pharmaceutical sales and distribution side of the business.

There are several regulatory pharmacy job agencies and organizations that help to recruit, hire and retain qualified pharmacists. These organizations offer a wide range of career opportunities to pharmacists with various educational qualifications in areas such as pharmacy administration, pharmacy research and development, pharmacy marketing and education, pharmacy law and policy, pharmaceutical calculations and reimbursement, pharmacy technician training and CPhs. Many other professional education programs are also offered to pharmacists who want to upgrade their skills.