Pharmacists in Canada are now moving over and going beyond routine duties like sitting behind the counter, collecting drugs and counting them. In fact, the industry is now witnessing a paradigm shift and pharmacists are at the centre of this new development in that country.
Canada
is now grooming a new generation of pharmacists who are now even
counseling patients and giving them advice on the best and cost
effective drugs. This new dimension to the career of a Canadian
pharmacist has been attributed to the developments in the industry as a
whole and the need to adapt to new market trends. Pharmacists are now
being trained to adopt a patient centric approach, which also includes
taking over some of the duties, hitherto performed by doctors.
Budding Canadian pharmacists are also being taught to identify,
mitigate and prevent problems related to medication. While the field of
pharmacy is ever changing and evolving, pharmacists are now required to
be on their toes all the time and adapt to changes in all the three
modes of drug sale including online, mail order and conventional
methods. Pharmacy schools are now giving special training in these
aspects. A pharmacist should learn to cope with the bulk of information
flowing in or he could be overwhelmed just by the number of new drugs
that are hitting the market every year.
Special emphasis is also placed on learning about the laws and
regulations that are in place in Canada and the prevalent public health
policy at the provincial or national government levels. Pharmacists are
also required to liaise with community support groups and with ailment
related groups like the local associations like the local lung
association and local diabetics association. This mandates the
knowledge of public relations work not to mention possession of good
communication skills. The curriculum followed by Canadian pharmacy
schools has evolved well in the last few years to cover these emerging
areas and to provide students with the edge needed to obtain employment
after obtaining their degrees.
Drug manufacturers have been roped in by many reputed pharmacy schools
to aid pharmacy students in choosing their streams from a wide range of
options. Pharmacists are also being guided to grow into the excellent
community pharmacists who go on to become the first link in the health
care system. They are expected to play a significant role in ensuring
that the patients receive the best drug therapy. Pharmacists can also
specialize in fields like oncology, infectious disease, psychiatry,
etc. Specializations help them in playing their role in various health
care teams.
The industry also wants pharmacists in areas like clinical research,
marketing and public relations. They are also being involved in
preparing information materials related to drugs and in educating
pharmacists, physicians and patients.
As of now, 9 universities in Canada are having pharmacy schools. The
admission requirements usually vary from one university to another.
After obtaining a Bachelors degree in pharmacy, one has to pass a
national board examination through the Pharmacy Examining Board of
Canada. After this, one can also get some practical experience through
an internship program. Different provinces in Canada have put forth
different requirements for becoming a licensed pharmacist.
In 2002, the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) began
recognizing the accreditations awarded by the Canadian Council for
Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) for programs leading to a
baccalaureate degree in pharmacy.