There was a time
when medicines were solely available at a doctor’s dispensary. The attendant
gave out the medicines to the patients as prescribed by the medic and life went
on.
Then came a time
when medical stores began popping up at every nook and corner in residential
areas, as many youngsters took up pharmacy as a profession and dreamt of owning
a pharmaceutical company.
These stores
were wholly approachable and entirely convenient. The pharmacist, over a period
of time, became so influential that people began consulting him for minor
ailments like cough and cold.
Despite serving
its purpose, the pharmacists’ role, over the years, came under scrutiny for
being largely ignorant and unprofessional, by no chance a trained medical
personnel.
In a country
like India, being a pharmacist is considered a noble profession as it plays a
very important role in the lives of patients and their relatives. Handling
medicines is an extremely challenging task and comes with a certain level of
responsibility, as it is directly connected to a patient’s well-being, indeed
even his existence.
With the
population facing severe health issues, a daily visit to the nearest pharmacy
store has become almost mandatory these days.
People buy
medicines and other wellness-related products without consulting a doctor or a
physician, making the role of the pharmacist even more crucial. It is no longer
the casual job where the man across the counter just hands out medicines on
demand. The risks are high, as the smallest error, such as an expired medicine,
can lead to major complications for a person’s health.
The pharmacy
industry is going through a major overhaul. Traditional mom-and-pop medical
stores are being replaced by retail chain pharmacies. The trend of retail
pharmacy stores, especially the big branded retail chains, has actually raised
the demand for trained pharmaceutical professionals.
There is a
severe need for trained people who can use their knowledge to serve patients as
well as run their stores in a professional manner, which also operate
round-the-clock.
At the moment,
there is a dire need for the right talent in the pharmacy business as branded
pharmacy and wellness chains are expanding their presence in every small and
big town and city.
As we know,
demand becomes strong when the supply is equivalent, but in this case, there is
no equilibrium; the demand moves at its own pace while the movement of the
supply curve is sluggish.
A possible
reason for the uneven supply can be scarce knowledge about the pharmacy course
that people pursue these days. Most people who aim to complete this course want
to be entrepreneurs.
They forget
about professionalism and the sensitivity needed for the job. In the process,
they miscalculate and face huge loss of capital. In comparison, working with
huge pharmacy chains gives them better security and work satisfaction.
Such
professionals are offered good salaries and various incentives, depending upon
ability and performance. It also offers them real-time exposure needed to
understand the working of the pharmaceutical sector.
Apart from
strong fundamentals, they gain significantly in managerial experience while
handling patrons at the store. Such pharmacy chains enhance career options as
well.
Specialists at
such chains are trained to judge real from fake medicines, given the level of
imitation that exists in the market. In turn, customers are safe from obvious
frauds that could exist. It certainly places curbs on the brazen selling of
fake medicines.
When customers
are sold medicines in a more sophisticated and professional ecosystem, it helps
to improve the system and indeed the industry itself.
It is time to
upgrade the way young pharmacists approach their work. Their knowledge about
what is fake and what is not in the marketplace is vital for health of patients
and customers who approach them with not just great hope but also a liberal
dose of faith.
https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-better-pharmacists-mean-a-better-healthcare-system-2728457
