IPP REVENUE HITS

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Filipino Pharmacists

Who are Filipino Pharmacists? What roles they have?

Filipino Pharmacists are pharmacists who are practicing in the Philippines. Their main role is to provide credible drug information for Filipino people. They are also tasked to be a liaison between drug company and FDA. There are various responsibilities, positions, and areas in food, drug, device and cosmetic where can a Filipino Pharmacist work.

Filipino Pharmacists are very independent and dynamic. A Filipino Pharmacist can be a businessman and a pharmacist at the same time. It is possible because he has the power to use his license for registration of drug business, especially drugstore, and manage it with or without partner/s. A drug business like a drugstore, hospital pharmacy, drug distributor/wholesaler, drug manufacturer, trader, drug exporter/importer are mandated to hire and rent pharmacist/s license/s to establish and continuously operate them as business. Filipino Pharmacists have the common goal of work which is to regulate and supervise the drug establishments according to the imposed law and regulation from FDA and other government offices.

Filipino Pharmacists can be effective in academe and teaching force. Majority of faculty of pharmacy schools are composed of registered pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. But in major subjects, doctorate or master degree pharmacists are handling them to instill the best learning and knowledge to the future Filipino Pharmacists.

In research, Filipino Pharmacists are most accountable in drug surveys, developments, research studies and clinical studies. They can be posted in any scientifically study that needing expertise when it comes to drugs. However, further education and study should be needed to be successful in these areas.

Filipino Pharmacists have the biggest percentage of manpower when talking about government agencies like FDA and PDEA. They are assigned to compliance service, inspection service, paper works and other assignments that related to food, drug, device and cosmetic.

Filipino Pharmacists are productive and reliable in work and to their function. They are determined to find solutions for every mistake, violation and penalty. If in case of always severe problem, they usually quit in job and find better work place where their work and life would be ease.

A common issue about Filipino Pharmacists is the issue of “Ghost Pharmacist.” It is the registration of pharmacist's license for drug establishment's operation without physically present in the daily operation of the establishment. The act of negligence and abandoning of one's function against oath profession and diverting towards other affair, so that double income would be instant. Even though this is happening, the Board of Pharmacy is always reiterating that this “ghost pharmacist” act is not valid and punishable against the RA No. 5921 (Pharmacy Law), Section 40. Penal provisions. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions ... of this Act or any person who shall make false representation to procure a registration certificate as pharmacist for himself or for another; or any person who shall allow anyone in his employ who is not a registered pharmacist to engage in the practice of pharmacy; or any person who shall falsely display within the establishment the certificate of registration of a pharmacist who is not actually and regularly employed therein as such or to act as a dummy for any alien or an unqualified person for the purpose of opening and operating a retail drugstore; shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to a fine of not less than one thousand pesos but not exceeding four thousand pesos or to an imprisonment of not less than six months and one day but not more than four years, in the discretion of the court.

Before a Filipino Pharmacist can attain his profession, he must take up first and finish a Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy, which is a four to five year course depending on the schools discretion, and an internship program which composed of a 960 hour totality of added hours in community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, manufacturing and a major internship in the three areas. A graduated pharmacy student cannot be heeded as registered pharmacists without passing the board exam. A graduated pharmacy student can be considered as pharmacy clerk or technician. Moreover, to be registered as licensed pharmacists, a graduated pharmacy student should take up and passed the Pharmacist Licensure Exam, which is regulated by the Board of Pharmacy of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

In the end being a Filipino Pharmacist is a very challenging role and worth proud profession, because even many issues and intrigues are being thrown it is still important to know that without them drug companies and establishments cannot operate and profit. Drug distribution will be messed up and turmoil. And drug dispensing, counseling and drug informing would not reach the patients and consumers. Filipino Pharmacists are here to help Filipino people to properly use drugs for their optimal wellness and drug care to reach the destined point where the drug will be sold or used in good condition and at effective action.

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