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.
