What do I have to do to get this job?

Educational qualification: B.Pharmacy/ M.Pharmacy

Work environment: Pharmacists usually work in clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas. Many pharmacists spend most of their time on their feet. . Many community and hospital pharmacies are open extended hours or around the clock, so pharmacists may work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Consultant pharmacists may travel to nursing homes or other facilities to monitor people's drug therapy.

How much will I be paid when I start?

3500/-

Future of this job

What is the future with this job? Employment of pharmacists is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2006, due to the increased pharmaceutical needs of a larger and older population, and greater use of medication. Cost-conscious insurers and health systems will continue to emphasize the role of pharmacists in primary and preventive health services. They realize that the expense of using medication to treat diseases and conditions is often considerably less than the potential costs for patients whose conditions go untreated, and pharmacists can also play an important role in reducing the expenses resulting from unexpected complications due to allergic reactions or medication interactions.

The increased number of middle aged and elderly people will spur demand for pharmacists in all practice settings. The number of prescriptions influences the demand for pharmacists, and the middle aged and elderly population uses more prescription drugs, on average, than younger people.

Other factors likely to increase the demand for pharmacists through the year 2006 include the likelihood of scientific advances that will make more drug products available, new developments in administering medication, and increasingly sophisticated consumers seeking more information about drugs.

Employment in hospitals is expected to grow slowly, as hospitals reduce inpatient stays, downsize, and consolidate departments. Pharmacy services are shifting to long-term, ambulatory, and home care settings, where opportunities for pharmacists will be best. New opportunities for pharmacists are emerging in managed care organizations, where pharmacists analyze trends and patterns in medication use for their populations of patients. Fast growth is also expected for pharmacists employed in research, disease management, and pharmacoeconomics— determining the costs and benefits of different drug therapies.

Because of efforts to control prescription drug costs, retail pharmacies are taking steps to increase their prescription volume to make up for declining dispensing fees. Automation of drug dispensing and greater use of pharmacy technicians will help them dispense more prescriptions. The number of community pharmacists needed in the future will depend on the expansion rate of chain drug stores and the willingness of insurers to reimburse pharmacists for providing clinical services to patients taking prescription drugs. With its emphasis on cost control, managed care has encouraged the growth of lower-cost distributors of prescription drugs such as mail-order firms. Slower employment growth is expected in traditional chain and independent pharmacies.

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