About The Pharmacy
Pharmacy; It is an academic discipline that includes the science and technique of preparing, distributing and reviewing drugs and providing additional clinical services. Since many of the drugs used in the health sector are produced by pharmaceutical companies, professional practices are clinically directed. According to the current situation, pharmacies are classified as community pharmacy or institutional pharmacy. Providing direct patient care in the community of institutional pharmacies is considered clinical pharmacy.
Career Paths for Pharmacy Degree Majors
Career opportunities for newly graduated pharmacists are;
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Personal Pharmacy,
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Hospital Pharmacy and Clinics,
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Pharmaceutical Industry,
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In cosmetics companies,
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In Forensic Medicine Institutions,
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In Pharmaceutical Warehouses,
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Industrial Pharmacy Institutions (Production, Testing, R&D, Epidemiology, Pharmacoepidemiology),
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In Clinical Research Laboratories,
Can find employment opportunities. Continuing an academic life is also an option for those studying pharmacy and they can work at universities as instructors.
People who receive an average of 5 years of education around the world have the opportunity to start their careers when they graduate from the faculty of pharmacy. For those who want to specialize in a field, graduate programs are required. Those who want to become a pharmacist must graduate from a 5-year pharmacy undergraduate program and complete their compulsory internship. Those who do not complete their 6-month compulsory internship cannot open a pharmacy and work as pharmacy technicians in hospitals, even after they graduate.
What Skills Do I Need to Become a Pharmacy?
When we look at the skills that pharmacists should have, it is necessary to look at the duties of pharmacists. The main duties of pharmacists are as follows:
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To inform patients in detail about the prescribed drugs.
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Suggesting and selling medicines according to the complaints of the patients. (Only over-the-counter drugs)
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To measure blood pressure. It is to perform first aid to people with low or high blood pressure.
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Preparing weekly and monthly pharmacy files.
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Processing controlled drug prescriptions on the computer.
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Informing patients about medical equipment.
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To act in accordance with the patient's right to privacy.
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Preparing chemotherapy drugs and solutions
In addition, pharmacists together with this whole process
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To maintain order in the pharmacy.
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Instruct both patients and nurses on the use of drugs and medical equipment.
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To determine the days off and working hours of the employees in the pharmacy.
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Checking that medicines are properly stored.
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Changing expired drugs. Dispose of expired drugs in accordance with the procedure.
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To classify green and red prescription drugs.
It has duties such as preparing a tender list and following up the work.
Considering all duties and responsibilities, it can be said that people who are careful, hardworking, have good human relations, enjoy their job and are interested in pharmacology and chemistry can be successful as pharmacists.
Is the Pharmacy Department Right for Me?
Pharmacy vocational education strives to prepare future professionals for the business life they will work in and to gain the ability to do things for the benefit of the society they live in. A university graduate is expected to be ready for professional life with his knowledge and skills and to always lead the society. Universities have the most important mission of trying to provide education and training that is as close to the sectoral elements of current life as possible and that provides information that is suitable for their needs. In this context, they need to adapt to faculties that aim to equip young people who prefer the profession of pharmacy with up-to-date medicine and health information by using theoretical and practical applications, and to train them as pharmacists who contribute to the society they live in. It is important to ensure that the graduates are at a level to be able to undertake the duties expected from a pharmacist at the national and global level, and to be able to apply them during their graduation.
It is important for idealists to read the pharmacy department for the future of the profession and for the education process not to be difficult. The prestige of the profession is in a position where idealistic people are successful. At the same time, it is known that people with strong human relations are more successful in this profession. People who want it for monetary gain will not be able to achieve the success they want in the pharmacy department, as in every profession. When the idea of helping people is prioritized here, the profit will increase. The pharmacy department, which covers an average of 5 years of education in the world, means a difficult education life when the details such as plant and drug names in Latin are considered. Pharmacy will not be a suitable profession for people who are not interested in these.
Study Pharmacy Abroad in UK
Pharmacy education in the UK usually lasts 4 years, while the curriculum focuses on pharmacology, biology, pharmaceutical physiology, chemistry, ethics and economics. There are three areas a pharmacist can pursue after graduation: Pharmacist, Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacists work with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide detailed information about the patient's treatment, to inform them about drug doses, as well as to check whether the prescribed drugs are correct. Pharmacist assistants work alongside technicians and often in hospitals. Assistants are responsible for issuing prescriptions and controlling the stock of medicines in the hospital. Pharmacist technicians, on the other hand, work in hospitals and pharmacies. Job descriptions include production, quality control and clinical trial processes. If you want to study pharmacy in the UK, the entry requirements are IB 34 points, while the IELTS requirement is 6.5 overall. The average salary for an individual working in the UK pharmaceutical industry is £18,500 per year.
Advantages of Study Pharmacy Abroad in UK
Pharmacy and Pharmacology is an education in how drugs and chemicals are created, regulated and used. Pharmacy and pharmacology are very popular with international students in the UK because of the wide job opportunities it offers, state-of-the-art facilities, and world-changing research conducted within experienced faculty and departments.
Pharmacy education equips students about every stage in the process from the production stages of drugs to their delivery to sick individuals. After graduating from Pharmacology, the fields of profession to be done are quite wide. It is possible to get a job in research and development departments, in departments such as pharmaceutical chemistry, in hospitals and pharmacies, or in departments such as production and marketing. Studying pharmacy in the UK provides the student with a competent English ability, job opportunities around the world, the opportunity to advance in the academic or private sector, and a satisfactory salary guarantee.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Pharmacy in the UK?
Pharmacy education in the UK usually takes 4 years. There are three main career options for pharmacy graduates to choose from. According to these career options, the education periods are as follows:
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Pharmacist: Most pharmacists in the UK ensure the correct dispensing of medicines in major hospitals or regional pharmacies. Working closely with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, they regulate whether patients are using the right drugs, their dosage and usage patterns. The training period is 4 years.
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Pharmacy Assistant: Assistants work alongside technicians and can perform many tasks on their behalf. These processes may include receiving and delivering prescriptions, placing orders to ensure stocks are met across various departments, and answering customers' questions. Assistants mostly work in hospitals. The training period is 2 years.
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Pharmacy Technician: Technicians tend to work in two areas – hospitals and community pharmacy - and they ensure the correct supply and dosage of medicine is delivered to patients. Pharmacy technicians can specialize in a number of roles such as manufacturing, quality control and clinical trials. The training period is 2 years.
The Best Universities to Study Pharmacy in UK
Five universities stand out especially for students who want to study pharmacy in England. It is a privilege to study pharmacy in these institutions with the best pharmacy faculties in England.
1. University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is ranked among the top 200 universities in the world according to THE 2020 and QS 2020 data, with 96.9% of UK undergraduates finding employment or further education within six months of graduation. The BSC (Hons) degree in Pharmacology is the best of its kind in the UK and students are trained by leading academics to prepare themselves for careers in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies large/small.
2. University of Ulster
The University of Ulster School of Pharmacy and Pharmacological Sciences has been rated the number one university for pharmacy and pharmacology for three of the last five years, and students can choose from a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) offers internships throughout your entire education to prepare you for your future career.
3. University of Bristol
The University of Bristol's School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience offers a Pharmacology master's program that places graduates in jobs at major pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare, biotechnology and research companies, with the opportunity for industry internships. 85% of graduates from this department are in employment or further education within the first six months of graduation.
4. Newcastle University
Newcastle University has a long tradition of excellence in pharmacy and pharmacology, and the Pharmacy master's program prepares you for a career in health and medicine. In the 2019 National Student Survey, the University of Newcastle Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy program had 91% student satisfaction. The University of Newcastle is a British university that has received a gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
5. University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham School of Pharmacy offers a Bachelor of Pharmacy program that prepares students for the “knowledge, personal and professional skills required to become an excellent pharmacist”. Master's programs are also available and the department was ranked 8th in the world in 2019 by QS World rankings.
Pharmacy Admission Requirement in UK
Entry requirements for pharmacy vary depending on the desire to become a technician, assistant or pharmacist, but grades in mathematics, English and chemistry are considered in common.
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Typical International Baccalaureate requirements: 34 points.
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Typical A-levels requirements: AAB.
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Typical IELTS requirements: 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each section