Pharmacist

Doctor and pharmacist. S. XVI.

The pharmacist or pharmaceutical chemist or apothecary is a professional with comprehensive skills in health, drug manufacturing, quality control, development and their investigation. In addition, the pharmacist has knowledge of toxicology, legislation (which governs medicinal and health products), pharmaceutical technology and public health, among others.

Development of the profession

Pharmaceutical, in Argentina.

In ancient times, the pharmacist made medicines from active principles extracted directly from animals, plants and, to a lesser extent, minerals. The use of active ingredients directly from nature led, in many cases, to administer erroneous doses (by excess or by default) of active substances, which caused the effect to be too high (appearance of adverse effects) or not enough (without correlation between the active ingredient and the disease to be treated).

Currently, most medicines are made semi-synthetically in the laboratory from the active principles of nature (taking the previously described active substances as a model, they are modified to be more effective, have therapeutic utility or have fewer adverse effects (such as transforming Yew venom into the chemotherapeutic drug Paclitaxel) or synthetic, creating the drugs to fit perfectly into the receptors on which they are going to adhere or to act specifically on metabolic pathways that cannot be found in nature. An example of synthetic drugs are biotechnological ones: therapeutic proteins, monoclonal antibodies, etc.

Denominations

Pharmacists in some countries, especially in Latin America, may be called Pharmaceutical Chemists or Biological Pharmaceutical Chemists (Q.F.B.). But this denomination can be misleading, since in some countries graduates in Pharmacy are differentiated from graduates in medicinal chemistry (or Pharmaceutical Sciences/Pharmaceutical Chemistry). In general, Pharmaceutical Chemists and Biochemists are called Doctors, due to their knowledge in medicine.

In Peru, Brazil, Ecuador and Chile, courses in Chemistry (or biochemistry) and Pharmacy are taught which, after a six-year undergraduate curriculum, grants the title of Pharmaceutical Chemist.

In Venezuela, the Pharmacy course lasts 5 years and the degree with which they graduate is Pharmacist. At the Central University of Venezuela there are numerous postgraduate specializations in Pharmacy, among them are: Toxicology, Community Pharmacy, Pharmacology, etc.

In Argentina, the course has a final degree of Pharmacist and has an estimated duration of 6 years. It is taught at the University of Buenos Aires, at the National University of La Plata, as well as at private study houses such as the University of Belgrano and the Kennedy University. The responsibilities of the Pharmacist in Argentina are: to be the Technical Director responsible for the operation of the Pharmacy office, be it private or official in nature defined by current legislation, as well as the Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industry; establish the technical, hygienic and safety specifications that must be met by the environments in which the technological processes are carried out, in the official or private, hospital or industrial spheres intended for the preparation of medicines and other pharmaceutical products, dietary foods, cosmetics, food and other health related products; integrate technical production, control and development personnel in Pharmacies, Pharmaceutical, Food and Cosmetic Industries and laboratories or institutes related or linked to them; extract, isolate, recognize, identify and preserve drugs and natural nutrients of animal, vegetable and mineral origin; Synthesize drugs, prepare and dispense medicines for the cure, relief, prevention or diagnosis of diseases of living beings; quality control in relation to the production of medicines, food and cosmetics, in terms of raw materials, intermediate and final products in their physical, chemical, biological and/or pharmacological aspect; to direct drug and medication analysis laboratories; carry out pharmacological studies, carried out in isolated biological systems or in living beings; act as advisor, consultant and expert, working as Technical Director in positions, functions and commissions that deal with problems that require scientific or technical knowledge that emanates from the possession of the title of Pharmacist; intervene in the drafting of the National Formulary, the Pharmacopoeia and the Food Codes and Regulations and carry out the paramedical functions authorized by health legislation (First aid, injections, etc.).

In Spain, Pharmacists acquire a Pharmacy Degree at the university after 5 years. Once he has his degree, he is already qualified to work as a pharmacist in a pharmacy, however, a specialization master's degree is currently required to work in industry (both pharmaceutical and food) or in clinical trials. To access the hospital pharmacy, it is required to pass the national test for access to resident internal pharmacist (FIR) and to study 4 years as a resident pharmacist in a hospital in Spain. To access positions of legislative regulation or state pharmacist, it is required to pass a state opposition.

In Mexico, for example, due to historical and social reasons, there are 14 pharmacy denominations, the most important being the bachelor's degree in pharmacy, the biologist pharmacist chemist, which have a duration of 5 years, after finishing they can access jobs from the hospital area, clinical analysis and pharmaceutical and food industries, in addition to participating in multidisciplinary research and development, in areas of specialization and postgraduate studies, it is the only country where there are all these denominations of this career, with both a chemical and a pharmacological approach. and biological.

Graduates in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in Italy (Pharmaceutical Sciences, in the United States) cannot practice pharmacy, so they have other fields of activity that range from industry, analysis and quality control to research and drug development. To practice as a pharmacist in these two countries, the academic level of doctor of pharmacy or the title of Pharm.D., respectively, is required.^{[citation required]}

Despite this, and to avoid confusion in most countries on the planet, the degree in Pharmacy is equivalent to that of Pharmaceutical Sciences and denotes the degree necessary to practice the profession of pharmacist, since worldwide there are 4 degrees of pharmacy, the bachelor of pharmacy, the pharmaceutical chemist, the master of pharmacy and the doctor of pharmacy (the master and doctor refer to undergraduate degrees and not postgraduate degrees).

Studies

During their studies, pharmacists study subjects such as Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Cellular Biology, Molecular Biology, Algebra, Calculus, Instrumental Techniques, Biochemistry, Anatomy, Botany, Microbiology, Parasitology, Physics, Biostatistics, Physiology, Pathology, Physical Chemistry, as subjects that provide a chemical-physical-biomedical base, and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Technology, Cosmetic Technology, Physiopathology, Immunology, Biopharmacy, Biotechnology, Pharmacokinetics, Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical care, Pharmacovigilance, Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacogenomics, Toxicology, Public Health, Clinical Analysis, Food Science, Quality Control, Pharmaceutical Marketing, Pharmaceutical Management and Legislation as subjects of pharmaceutical sciences and the basis for pharmaceutical practice.

Role

Pharmacy Office

The most widespread specialty, at least in popular culture, of a pharmacist is the ownership of a pharmacy. To access it, in Spain there are two ways: submit to a public tender or acquire a license from another owner, which turns the sale of a pharmacy into a transaction between individuals. The Pharmacy Office It is a private establishment of public interest and to determine the price of that license to open a pharmacy, multiple factors will be taken into account but, mainly, it will depend on the invoicing of the apothecary.

The pharmacist carries out the pharmaceutical care for the patient that implies the pharmacotherapeutic follow-up that includes, first, the act itself of dispensing, the control and indication of the doses, the information to the patient, clearing up the patient's doubts, the control of possible pharmacological interactions and the correct conservation of medicines.

The pharmacist, in his pharmacy office, prepares medicines in doses adapted to children or to specific pathologies, these preparations are known as magisterial and officinal formulas, fulfilling a social function when these medicines are not available in an industrialized form. The dispensing (as opposed to the sale, which involves merchandise) of medicines can be:

• By prescription: the vast majority of medications need to be prescribed by a health care professional (doctors, veterinarians, dentists, among others) and the pharmacist may not dispens the drug if the patient does not give the recipe properly completed.

• No prescription: other medicines, called advertising (direct-sale or TBT medicines), do not need a prescription and therefore everyone can buy them without a doctor having indicated it.

Pharmaceutical, in a pharmacy office.

Another task of a pharmacist in a pharmacy is to advise and monitor patients about possible adverse reactions to drugs, interactions between them, and teach them the best way to take full advantage of the benefits of the drug and, in general, doubts about them according to all kinds of therapy. If deemed appropriate, the pharmacist can refer the person to a doctor.^{[appointment required]}

Recently, the practice of pharmaceutical care has been advocated as the primary remit of community pharmacists.

Apart from the aforementioned recipes, other parapharmacy products are also sold, such as cosmetic products, special foods, personal hygiene products, orthopedics, etc. Popularly, the pharmacy is usually called simply a pharmacy and is traditionally called an apothecary. A pharmacy office can house a clinical analysis laboratory or one for the production of medicinal products using magisterial formulas or officinal preparations.^{[citation required]}

Pharmacy office staff

The pharmacy is the place where the community pharmacist develops his professional work. Pharmacies may be owned by a pharmacist, or in some countries owned by a chain of pharmacies or entrepreneurs. In any case, in a pharmacy office there must always be a licensed pharmacist at all times, either owner or employee, among which we find different categories: manager, substitute, associate or physician. These categories are beneficiaries of the so-called "optional plus". However, in the apothecary there are also auxiliary personnel, who help the pharmacist in dispensing and receiving orders, but who would no longer receive this salary supplement. Little by little, pharmacy technicians are being introduced.

Stores from a pharmacy office.

The staff performs the following functions:

• Diligence and control products.
• Billing and information in pharmacy establishments.
• Dispensing medications and parapharmacy products.
• To inform customers about their use.
• Determine simple anatomical-physiological parameters and encourage healthy habits in customers.
• Prepare medicines, diets and cosmetics, under established protocols and supervision of the physician.
• Conduct elementary and standardized clinical analyses, under the supervision of the physician (this activity may be reserved for biochemical professionals in some countries).

In Latin America, the pharmacy cannot exist without the Pharmacist, who must prepare medicines, control and supervise the dispensing of medicines, does not always attend to the public, the one who attends to the public is a Pharmacy Assistant.

But currently most medicines are prepared in the Industry, applying the most sophisticated pharmaceutical technology such as tanks, mixers and more industrial facilities to prepare batches of different pharmaceutical forms, not to mention the use of quality control systems, quality assurance and administration that allow them to be manufactured in series, of the best quality and economically viable following the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices).^{[citation required]}

Hospital Pharmacy

In almost all countries, hospital pharmacists are pharmacists who have studied and carried out professional practices for a period of 1 to 5 years as a postgraduate. This specialization allows them to perform clinical and technical functions not normally expected of pharmacy graduates. A well-trained hospital pharmacist can in fact act, and this is the reality in many hospitals, as a clinical pharmacist (at the same level of competence, if not higher, since they are more prepared for planning and scientific-technical tasks, than clinical pharmacologists). who generally tend to be medical graduates with little training in pharmaceutical sciences). According to some, this explains why the evolution and development of hospital and clinical pharmacy has been much greater than clinical pharmacology (restricted only to doctors)., there are areas where collaboration between doctors trained in clinical pharmacology and hospital pharmacists (clinical pharmacists) can be very fruitful, such as: clinical trials, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacovigilance and health technology assessment, among others.

Pharmaceutical Industry

The research, development, manufacture and control of dosage forms of medicines on a large scale are other of the main tasks of pharmacists.

Currently this work is carried out in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological Industry. For this, according to the different countries, pharmacists are more or less prepared and for this reason they carry out brief or extensive postgraduate programs to carry out these functions.

Apart from the design of dosage forms and the preparation and control of medicines, pharmacists can develop a multitude of specific functions in the pharmaceutical industry (sales technicians, product marketing managers, clinical trial monitors, pharmacologists, pharmaceutical chemists, biochemists, specialists in pharmaceutical records, institutional relations, pharmacoeconomics, medical information, medical advisers, etc, etc...).

Research Laboratory

The research and development of new drugs is a booming sector today. The need to seek a remedy for thousands of diseases is one of the priority objectives and pharmacists are in charge of investigating both the use and safety of the use of active ingredients (natural, semi-synthetic or synthetic) as well as establishing the correct dose and verifying that they are effective. and insurance. To do this, they use the collaboration of multiple specialists in pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences (graduates in experimental, health and life sciences) and the use of clinical trials.

Specialties

Pharmacy is a very broad profession. What the population knows best is the community pharmacy, which is run by a pharmacist who is in charge of the technical and scientific direction of the establishment; He can also prepare certain medicines either by medical order, generally by a dermatologist, or by his own formulation. In many countries, a bachelor's degree is enough.

However, in many countries for certain activities a regulated specialization of the pharmacist is necessary (for example, the FIR system, Internal Resident Pharmacist of Spain) or through master's degrees or doctorates:

Regulated pharmaceutical specializations

• Hospitality
• Clinical Pharmacy (depending on the country)
• Human pathology and physical analysis
• Radiopharmacy
• Microbiology and clinical parasitology (according to the country this specialization may be reserved for the biochemical professional)
• Clinical biochemistry (according to the country this specialization may be reserved for the biochemical professional)
• Clinical immunology (according to the country this specialization may be reserved for the biochemical professional)
• Clinical analysis (according to the country this specialization may be reserved for the biochemical professional)
• Industrial and galvanic Pharmacy
• Drug and Drug Analysis and Control

PhDs/Masters Suitable for Pharmacists

• Pharmacology.
• Biopharmacy and pharmacokinetics.
• Pharmaceutical technology.
• Pharmaceutical chemistry.
• Pharmacognosis.
• Toxicology.
• Biochemistry and molecular biology.
• Microbiology.
• Biotechnology.
• Physical chemistry.
• Organic chemistry.
• Bromatology.
• Pharmacoepidemiology.
• Botanical.
• Pharmacoeconomics and health economy.
• Business administration and management.
• Pharmacy and pharmaceutical care.

Other fields of professional activity

• Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care
• Primary Care Pharmacy
• Technical management of laboratories and distributors
• Quality control of all pharmaceutical forms for human use
• Pharmaceutical Marketing
• Pharmaceutical policy and management
• Dermopharmacy and cosmetology
• Environmental health
• Public health
• Clinical Research with Medicines
• Drug registration
• Clinical trials
• Drug information
• Pharmacovigilance
• Drug analysis
• Food analysis
• Microbiology (according to the country this activity may be reserved for the biochemical professional)