SCOPE OF PHARMACY PROFESSION

Scope of Pharmacy Profession
•Pharmacists are one of the most accessible health professionals and work closely with patients to assist them with managing their medicines and disease states as well as promoting health and improving the quality of life.

•The role of the pharmacist encompasses counseling patients on the best use of medications, providing advice on symptoms, the management of common ailments, preparing and formulating medications and providing health education.

•Pharmacists are "experts on medicines" and play an active role in the Quality Use of Medicines in our society. Pharmacists have skills in chemistry of the drugs, formulating medicines and the therapeutic use of drugs to treat diseases.

•Pharmacists are dynamic, patient-oriented professionals committed to fulfilling the health care needs of their patients. Pharmacy is a profession that is expanding in new directions to meet the health care needs of all Canadians.

•Currently, there is a movement beyond the traditional compounding and dispensing of medication towards a more professional advisory and primary health care role. Pharmacists can apply their knowledge and skill to become directly involved in the healing and education of patients. The phrase "ask your pharmacist" is becoming increasingly common - and with good reason. Pharmacists are an integral part of the community and serve as an important source of knowledge.


Pharmacists are ready and willing to share their knowledge concerning:
•optimal drug therapy for patients with a focus on drug interactions and potential side effects.

•treatment of various medical conditions.

•education and promotion of the general health of the public.

•where to get emergency care.

Although the pharmacist’s focus is changing, the pharmacist remains an expert in the application and usage of pharmaceuticals. This includes the formulation, compounding, storage, and dispensing of medication.


Pharmacist in General Practice.
Pharmacist interested in people and in the life can take the opportunity of daily and all day contact with public, in an area where he is recognized as a family adviser, consulted upon a variety of subjects, in addition to the supply of medicines whether on prescription or required for sample family ailments. The general practice of pharmacy is an activity involving the application of profession, scientific and technological principles to the supply of medicines and medical surgical appliances required for prevention and treatment of disease under domiciliary conditions whether on prescription or otherwise and the giving of information and advice to such supply. The pharmacy is a real information centre for all who desires the service of the proprietor of the qualified staff in relation to health matters. The professional aspect of the pharmacists work can be enhanced and co-operation with the doctors practicing in his area enlarged. If the pharmacist maintains up to date record of all new medical preparations and puts this at the disposal of the local doctors.


Pharmacist in the Hospital.
A hospital pharmacy with a qualified pharmacist in charge has been accepted as a basic need by the larger hospital to explore the medical services scientifically and meaningfully. Pharmacist in a hospital works wholly in a professional manner. The practice of pharmacy in private and government owned hospitals is emerging as one of the most important areas of pharmacy practice. Broadly hospital pharmacy (i.e. pharmacy within hospital) is the department or service in a hospital which is under the direction of a professionally competent and legally qualified pharmacist from which all medications are supplied to the nursing units and other services, where special prescriptions are filled for patients in the hospital, where prescription are filled for ambulatory patients and out patients, where pharmaceuticals are manufactured in bulk, where narcotic and other prescribed drugs are dispensed where biological are stored and dispensed and where professional supplies are open stocked and dispensed.

The hospital pharmacist also acts as a pharmacologic advisor to the physician concerning the pharmacology, toxicology, and penology of new classes of drugs. Additionally the pharmacist plays a vital role in hospital management, a recent concept that is rapidly achieving recognition in the field of hospital. Current trends and progressive hospital make the need for pharmacist for every hospital because of their involvement in assuring better and safer use of drugs.


Pharmacist in Industry.
The pharmacists’ multidisciplinary background, business training and sense of accuracy control make him a uniquely qualified to serve in the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmaceutically the persons can serve in various industry capacities:

•Pharmaceutical Production
•Research and Development
•Analytical Research & Quality Control & Assurance
•Scientific Information and Regulatory Affairs
•Clinical Testing
•Professional Relations
•Sales and Marketing and Management


Pharmacist in Marketing.
Pharmaceutical marketing is not just about selling drugs. It is also about promoting new ideas. Marketing can further the idea that pharmacists provide value and should receive compensation for professional services. It can help pharmacists exert influence over the way pharmacy is practiced.

Marketing can be used to solve almost any problem in pharmacy. It can be used in personal career management, in influencing change in practice settings, and in enhancing job effectiveness. Marketing can help persuade patients to adhere to medication plans, physicians to prescribe medicines appropriately, and management to support pharmacy practice initiatives. It can be used to recruit good employees, attract and keep patients, provide innovative services, and compete with other professions for a portion of the health care pie.


Pharmacist in Government Sectors.
The emphasis on health services for the population of our country has increased the importance of participation of pharmacists in health programs. Pharmacists have a unique and broad based education to have a wide range of opportunities for careers in the clinical practice of pharmacy in governmental hospitals, out patients clinics, extended care facilities administration and health related affairs. In the united sates of America and many other developed countries, pharmacists are serving in civilian and military sectors.

(1)Opportunities in the civilian, government sectors:
Department of Health, Education and welfare (HEW)
The public Health Services (PHS)

>>The Alcohol, Drug Abuse and mental Health Administration (ADMHA):
>National Centre for family planning service
>National centre for health services, research and development
>Centre for disease control
>Maternal and child health service
>National institute of occupational safety and health
>Community health services
>>The centre for disease control (CDC)

>>The food and drugs Administration.

>>The National Institute of Health (NIH)

>>The Health Service Administration (HAS)

>>Social Rehabilitation Service (SRS)
>Veterans Administration
>The department of Justice in Drug Enforcement Administration
>Social Security Administration
>Office of Equal Opportunity
>Non Federal Government Agencies, e.g. States, Municipal Corporation etc.

(2)Opportunity in non-civilian governmental sectors:
In addition to the role of pharmacists in the governmental health agencies for the benefit of common people they also have an important responsibility regarding health affairs in Armed, Naval and Air force. Both commissioned as well as non commissioned pharmacists are found to serve in the United States.


Pharmacist in Community Health Services.
A community pharmacist is the professional who would be in direct access to the public and whose duties are widely sought after by the public and patients. He dispenses medicines with a prescription and in certain cases without a prescription where applicable (OTC drugs). As he is the person who will be in direct contact with the public, he has to play an important role in decreasing the mortality and morbidity in the public.

Community pharmacy practice evolved in the post Second World War period. A pharmacist not only began to perform functions that were new to pharmacy, but they began to innovative functions and make original contribution to literature. The popular motto of "patient oriented practice" and "drug use control" came into practice. But unfortunately the role of community pharmacist is not so much recognized till today especially in India and needs strong efforts.

Although community pharmacist is of key importance in providing better healthcare, it is the matter of shame for us that the Bangladeshi patient does not find any difference between the grocer and the pharmacist. Despite of major role of community pharmacy, the situation and condition of the community pharmaceutical service has stood where it was like a man walking on a treadmill. He walks and walks and sweats, but remains in the same place. Until and unless the link between the people and physician i.e. the pharmacist does not get its proper recognition any dreams of making us, a healthier nation cannot be fulfilled.

The need of the hour is to make community pharmacist a key towards better health care. The community pharmacist can take part in health promotion campaigns, locally and nationally, on a wide range of drug related and health related topics.

A community pharmacist involvement could play an important role in the following areas of health care.
>Nutrition Counseling
>Women Welfare-Pregnancy and Infant Care
>Rational Use of Drugs
>Sexually Transmitted Diseases-AIDS
>Alcohols, Drug Abuse and Smoking Cessation
>Family Planning
>Individualization of Drug Therapy

Community Pharmacist should have the opportunity to perform:
•General prescription services
>Dispensing of official preparation
>Manufacturers specialties
>Therapeutic information
>Clinical information as a consultant of drugs
•Clinical laboratory works e.g. preparation of some test solution like Benedict’s solution, simple pathological tests etc.


Pharmacists in the National Health Care Services.
According to the first national health insurance Act 1911 (which is revised in 1941) of Britain, the dispensing of medicines and the supply of appliances was recognized to the province of the pharmacist though medical practitioners could in many instances did supply them. The dependence on the pharmacist for dispensing of drugs and allied products is easily understood from the above act. So the pharmacist should take part in every sector of health services and must be capable to perform his duties ethically and morally.


The Pharmacist must give Reasonably Prompt Services.
He must accept a telephoned request to dispense a prescription from a medical practitioner personally known to him who undertakes to provide him with a written prescription within twenty four hours. The dispensing of prescription must be done by or under direct supervision of a qualified pharmacist. In addition to this the pharmacist should take care of his patients relating drugs and any other information regarding the drugs dispensed. Pharmacist can also take part in other activities of the health and allied services to promote and implement the government health policy.


Pharmacist in Education Sectors.
In our country numbers of Universities are offered pharmacy education program and few diploma and registered technical pharmacy courses are running. In those Institutions and Universities pharmacist plays vital roles as a teacher for the educations of the apprentices.


Conclusion.
We need to work closely with the pharmacist associations and share our common experiences and frame appropriate guidelines so that pharmacist who plays a major role in providing better health care can be recognized.

In a nutshell, pharmacist in the health care system is like circumventer of a triangle with physicians, patients and nurses at the corners of the triangle. He has direct contact with all health care professionals and patients. It is really important to appreciate the fact that a patient finds himself to be much more comfortable in a drug store than in a physician’s dispensary. The role of pharmacist is indispensable in providing better health care. Steps should be taken by the government and the pharmacist himself to make his recognition in the community as a better health care provider. The National pharmaceutical associations like Bangladesh pharmaceutical society (BPS) will have to be committed to change and use their influence to convince community and the government that pharmacists can play a significant role in national health care programs. The main driving force will have to come from pharmacists themselves. They are best able to decide what can be achieved and within what time scale.

Every community pharmacist should always remember, the following lines:
"Do all the good you can, In all the ways you can;
In all the places you can, At all the times you can;
To all the people you can, As long as ever you can".