Better pharmacists mean a better healthcare system

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.

Author is founder and director, Wellness Forever Medicare Pvt Ltd