Description

Pharmacists dispense drugs and medicaments in hospitals and pharmacies and advise on and participate in the development and testing of new drugs, compounds and therapies. They counsel on the proper use and adverse effects of drugs and medicines.

Tasks

• Prepares or directs the preparation of prescribed medicaments in liquid, powder, tablet, ointment or other form following prescriptions issued by medical doctors and other health professionals
• Advises health professionals on the selection and appropriate use of medicines
• Highlights a drug’s potential side effects, identifies harmful interactions with other drugs and assesses the suitability of treatments for patients with particular health conditions
• Checks that recommended doses are not being exceeded and that instructions are understood by patients
• Maintains prescription files and records issue of narcotics, poisons and other habit-forming drugs
• Liaises with other professionals regarding the development, manufacturing and testing of drugs
• Tests and analyses drugs to determine their identity, purity and strength
• Ensures that drugs and medicaments are in good supply and are stored properly.

Entry Requirements

Entrants possess a degree in pharmacy. To register with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, entrants must have completed a one year period of pre-registration training and passed a registration exam. Further training is available to permit pharmacists to prescribe medicines independently.