The field of pharmacy is seen today as a dying profession. People have had this disposition for decades, even when we understand that our health always needs proper care and attention.
True, the healthcare system is changing rapidly, and the role of the pharmacist is not what it used to be. Pharmacists are then advised to change with the times or risk possible extinction.
What Is A Pharmacist?
A Pharmacist is a healthcare professional that specializes in the proper use, storage, preservation, and administration of medicines.
They can guide you on how to take your medication and inform you of any potential side effects of what you are taking. Pharmacists are charged with filling prescriptions by doctors and other high-ranking healthcare professionals.
Pharmacists play a major part in healthcare research and testing of new drugs. They work in pharmacies, medical clinics, hospitals, government institutions, and universities.
What Does A Pharmacist Do?
People have used plants and other natural substances as medicine for thousands of years. However, professional pharmacy practice became a separate field in the 19th century.
Today, Pharmacists distribute prescription drugs to individuals who need them. They also counsel patients and other healthcare professionals on using or taking medicines, the correct dose, and potential side effects.
In addition, they can ensure that the drug will not react negatively with other medications you are taking or with your health problems.
They can also provide information on general health topics such as diet and exercise and advice on products such as home health supplies and medical equipment.
Is Pharmacy A Dying Profession? Why You Might Think So
Robots And Software Are Replacing Pharmacists
The pharmacy industry is facing a major challenge. Robots and software are replacing pharmacists, who need to ensure the drugs are safe before they are given out.
But this shouldn’t pose a threat, as robots can’t offer the care, warmth, and affection as humans can.
Robots have been around for a while now, but they’re still not perfect; sometimes, they make mistakes when dispensing medication by dispensing too much at once, which can lead to overdose.
However, technicians have produced software to help fix this problem by checking each prescription before it gets filled out by hand-filled paper forms called scrip. This helps prevent errors from happening again. And who oversees this? A Pharmacist.
Emerging Treatments Will Leave Pharmacists Without A Role
As the population ages and more people begin to require treatment for chronic conditions, the role of pharmacists will become increasingly limited.
Emerging treatments are often less effective than current medications and can cause adverse effects that may be difficult to manage. Pharmacists are not trained in these areas, so they cannot provide adequate care when faced with this new wave of medicines.
As stated earlier, Pharmacists will also be replaced by robots as retail pharmacies continue their expansion into more competitive markets such as medical practices and hospitals.
It is assumed that robots will make it easier for customers to order prescription drugs online without interacting with a human during checkout.
This means fewer jobs for retail employees, who might have been able to answer questions about new medications, but more work for robots who can handle everything from stocking shelves to checkouts. How sad can this be?
The Healthcare System Is Becoming More Automated
The healthcare system is becoming more automated. The pharmacy profession is changing, which is not necessarily bad.
The U.S., like many other countries around the world, has seen an increase in the use of computerized prescription order systems (COPYS).
Pharmacies use these systems to store patient information and medications in their databases so that they can be retrieved quickly when orders are entered by physicians or patients themselves at their local pharmacies.
Pharmacists Are Underpaid
Pharmacists are underpaid, overworked, and not getting the respect they deserve. A pharmacist is seen as a friend to life!
It’s a sorry state of affairs for anyone who has spent their life studying to be a pharmacist. Still, it’s especially galling when you consider that pharmacy was once regarded as one of the most respected fields in healthcare.
It’s true: Pharmacy has been around since ancient times:
- The ancient Greeks used them to prepare medicines from plants.
- Hippocrates is credited with introducing systematic ways of handling patients’ conditions through his writings about medication.
- Galen was known as “the father of Western Medicine” for his work on medical theory and practice.
But by modern standards, these were very small roles compared with other professions, such as medicine itself or surgery (which came later). So why do we think pharmacists now take up less space than dentists? Is pharmacy a dying profession?
The Bottom Line
Pharmacists are concerned about the future of the pharmacy profession, and they are not alone. They see a shrinking role in their industry, where they’re expected to provide more services without much training.
They also worry that other healthcare professionals or clients won’t recognize their education as valuable enough to justify it as an important part of medicine.
Pharmacists’ salaries are also on their minds: According to one survey, 71% of pharmacists feel underpaid compared with other healthcare workers.
Another survey found that only 42% believe their salaries should be increased within five years, compared with 80% who think so today.
The pharmacy profession is changing, but this is not necessarily bad. Pharmacists are being replaced by software and robots, but this is not necessarily bad. Pharmacists have been doing the same job for decades, so why not let a machine do it?
On the bright side, pharmacists who want to remain in practice will have to learn new skills and adapt their business model accordingly.
There is also the fact that pharmacists are not alone anymore. They work with other healthcare providers on both sides of the counter.
There are long-time practitioners who’ve been trained as technicians or technicians-in-training (TITs), as well as physicians who do community pharmacy services or direct primary care visits at clinics like urgent care centers or health clinics.
These medics can also offer advice about how best to use medications if needed by patients’ specific needs during interactions with pharmacies/pharmacy staff members, including pharmacists themselves.
FAQ
Does Pharmacy Have A Good Future?
The good news is that the pharmaceutical industry is experiencing unprecedented growth. And as the industry grows, so makes the demand for qualified individuals to enter the career market.
For those willing to invest time and money, the pharmacy offers a variety of career paths and generous benefits.
Is Pharmacy A Declining Field?
Pharmacist employment is projected to decline by nearly 2 percent during the decade 2020 to 2030.
Is Pharmacy A Stable Career?
Choosing a career in pharmacy is one where you can always count on work. You will always need your services because people will always need medicine.
What Is The Future Of Pharmacy In The Next 10 Years?
Pharmacists will be able to play a similar role to doctors and use AI to supplement their advisory work.
Pharmacists will be able to act as care providers and advise patients about their health while delegating administrative tasks such as collecting medicines to AI-powered machines.
Why Are Pharmacies On The Decline?
Independent pharmacies face the challenges of vertical integration between drug chains, insurers, and pharmaceutical benefit managers, giving these companies market power that community drug stores cannot match.
What Are The Weaknesses Of Pharmacy?
There are weak evaluation mechanisms, a lack of support from management, a lack of standard operating procedures, the unavailability of pharmaceutical care tools, and an absence of documentation of their activities by clinical pharmacists.
Why Are So Many Pharmacists Quitting?
The pharmacist’s biggest problem was the lack of well-trained staff. “I have been understaffed for 7 months.
Having to do the work of multiple people for so long really took its toll,” she said. “People come and go because they are overwhelmed without adequate training,” she added.
Is Pharmacy A Good Career 2030?
Pharmacists are expected to grow 2% from 2021 to 2031, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite limited employment growth, an average of about 13,600 pharmacy openings are projected yearly over the decade.
Is Pharmacy A Good Career 2022?
Pharmacy is still a good and wise career choice.
Is Pharmacy Better Than Nursing?
Nursing provides more diverse career opportunities, but a career in pharmacy pays more. Also, a BSc in nursing is a bachelor’s degree (4 years).
It has more value than the pharmacy, which is a diploma (2 years). In addition, pharmacists can earn good salaries and working hours are often very flexible.
Conclusion
Is pharmacy a dying profession? No! Pharmacists have been around for thousands of years, and the skill set they use is far from irrelevant.
Nevertheless, Pharmacists are facing a lot of changes in the coming years. While automation is certainly on the rise, it’s unclear how it will affect the pharmacy profession.
However, if you’re considering a career in pharmacy, there is no doubt that automation has already made a big impact.
If you’re looking to start your own business or join an existing one, it’s important to know what to expect from your future customers and colleagues.
An excellent way to get started is by reading articles like this, which provides insight into what life as a pharmacist might look like for today’s professionals and sharing it with like-minds.