Pharmacy is the art, science and practice of the design, development and production of drugs and also the study of drug interactions, including formulation of drugs, compounding of drugs and dispensing while also involving health counseling, and medication advice cum drug therapy interventions.
In common English language, pharmacy is also a shop
or a section/department of a hospital where medicinal drugs and other
therapeutics are prepared and sold.
Pharmacy is a professional science field
integrating the medical sciences with chemistry and other fields of knowledge
that finds applications in it.
A pharmacist is qualified personnel by formal
education, whom had obtained the required license to practice in the field of
pharmacy and possess excellent knowledge of the pharmaceutical sciences and
care.
Pharmacists depending on area of interest,
specialization and workplace discovers, designs, develops, market/distributes
and dispenses medicinal drugs, offer advice and interventions on safe and
effective use of medications, carry out immunization/vaccination and other
administrative and clerical functions.
Some pharmacists in some locations may
prescribe some specific medications for specific ailments perform some common
tests to check for vital signs and other healthcare services (including
providing advice and education on safe use of medications, diets and lifestyle
modification).
The primary
and traditional roles of the pharmacist include; preparation, compounding,
dispensing and merchandise of drugs in addition to educating the public on
appropriate use of medication. Pharmacists are called ‘Drug Experts’ because of
their sound knowledge and expertise on drugs, drug formulation, dosage and drug
therapy. They also advice physicians and other healthcare practitioners on
appropriate use of medicines, as they check errors in prescriptions.
SCOPE
Its scope includes the cultivation of
medicinal plants, extraction synthesis and purification of medicinal compounds
and analysis of medicinal agents. It applies the knowledge of chemistry, biology,
physics, epidemiology, mathematics, statistics and chemical engineering in its
scope. It also includes administration and management as well as the business of
pharmacy i.e, manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, retailing, import and
export of pharmaceuticals while adhering to laws and regulations guiding the
practice and maintaining safety protocols.
Graduate
pharmacists can work in any of these fields;
Clinical/hospital
pharmacy: They work as important part of the health team with the following
responsibilities; responsible for choosing the drugs to be stocked in the
hospital dispensary. Receive prescription orders from physicians, dentists and
nurses followed by checking, review and dispensing of the prescribed drugs. They
may also go on ward rounds and also prepare and compound drugs for in-patients.
They also give pharmaceutical advice and interventions.
Industrial pharmacy: Research and create new
pharmaceuticals and develop existing ones. They also develop market strategies
to merchandize drug products.
Pharmacy academia: They train pharmacy students, undergo
further studies in the pharmaceutical sciences and carry out pharmaceutical
research.
Regulatory agencies: They are employed to work in order to
check and regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution of drugs and other
pharmaceutical and related products in the country’s market before they reach
the consumers. They test and ascertain the quality and safety of products.
Other areas include pharmacoeconomics, legal
sector and community pharmacy.
AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT
Hospitals and
clinics
Community pharmacies
Pharmaceutical
industries
Regulatory agencies
Wholesale,
distribution, import and export
Academia
Others are the legal sector, vet clinics,
correctional service centers, journalism, military, etc.
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THE 4 MAIN BRANCHES OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE ARE GIVEN
BELOW
Pharmacology: The scientific study of the
properties and effects of drugs on the body. It’s divided into
pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmaceutical toxicology and
pharmacogenomics
Pharmaceutical and medicinal
chemistry: field of
study at the intersection of chemistry, pharmacology and various biological
sciences involving the discovery, synthesis, design, development, analysis and
evaluation of pharmaceutical drugs.
Pharmaceutics: Discipline concerned with the
process of converting a new chemical entity into a medicine in a safe and
effective form, i.e, dosage form design. It is the art and science of creating
the dosage form of a therapeutic agent, thus, it encompasses drug formulation
and manufacturing.
Pharmacognosy: Study of pharmacologically active
compounds derived from plants and natural sources.
Others are pharmacovigillance, pharmacoinformatics, pharmaceutical biotechnology, cosmeceuticals, pharmaceutical analysis etc.
Major Specialties
of Clinical Pharmacy
Ambulatory care pharmacy
Cardiology pharmacy
Geriatrics pharmacy
Compounded sterile preparations pharmacy
Nutrition support pharmacy
Nuclear pharmacy
Emergency medicine pharmacy
Infectious disease
Oncology pharmacy
Pharmacotherapy
Critical care pharmacy
Psychiatric pharmacy
Academic pharmacy etc
Qualities and Skills
Required in Pharmacy
Analytical skills
Communication
skills
Attention to
details
Management and
administrative skills
ICT skills
and knowledge
PHARMACY
EDUCATION
To apply for
pharmacy program in any of Nigerian universities, you are required to have a
science background. You are expected to have taken classes in science subjects;
physics, biology, chemistry, general mathematics. English language is
compulsory. Other relevant subjects are economics, agric science, computer
science etc. you are required to possess 5 credits and above in physics,
biology, chemistry, general mathematics and English language.
Interested candidate
would sit for the UTME exam which includes the 4 subjects; physics, chemistry,
biology and use of English.
Direct Entry
candidates may provide an Alevel certificate or a relevant Bachelors degree. A
level certificate should be in physics, chemistry and biology/zoology/botany
while degree holders in the field of anatomy, physiology, zoology, microbiology,
biochemistry, nutrition, botany, biology, biotechnology, pharmacology,
chemistry or other degrees as specified by the institution.
Pharmacy in
Nigeria lasts for 5yrs for Bachelor of pharmacy degree and 6yrs for Doctor of
pharmacy. Direct entry students
spend 4 or 5 years depending on the pharmacy program. The Pharm.D program
focuses more on clinical practice while providing the students opportunity to
acquire hands-on-training and experience while the Bachelor of pharmacy
program, B.Pharm, is more research oriented and focuses more on drug
manufacture, formulation and pharmaceutical discoveries.
Practicing pharmacists in various areas of
pharmacy are periodically subjected to mandatory continuing professional
development (MCPD) which is designed to update their knowledge and skills or
expertise in order to keep up with modern trends and advancement in the fields
of pharmacy.
Pharmacy graduates
that obtained their degrees from other recognized school of pharmacy outside Nigeria
are required to undergo the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Orientation Program(FPGOP)
backed and supported by the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria.
SCHOOLS OF PHARMACY IN NIGERIA
The following
schools are accredited school of pharmacy in Nigeria
· DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY
· AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES (READ ABU COURSES)
· KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY
· GOMBE STATE UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF
PHARMACYV
· NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
· UNIVERSITY OF PORT-HARCOURT, FACULTY
OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
· UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN, FACULTY
OF PHARMACY
· UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY
· OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY ILE-IFE, FACULTY
OF PHARMACY
· IGBINEDION UNIVERSITY, OKADA, FACULTY
OF PHARMACY
· USMAN DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY SOKOTO,
FACULTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
· UNIVERSITY OF JOS, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY
· UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY
· UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY(READ UNILAG COURSES)
· OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY, SAGAMU FACULTY
OF PHARMACY
· UNIVERSITY OF UYO, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY
· MADONNA UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY
· UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY(READ UNIMAID COURSES)
· NIGER DELTA UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY
· UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, FACULTY OF
PHARMACY.
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The
following departments exist in faculty of pharmacy
Pharmaceutics
and industrial pharmacy
Pharmaceutical
chemistry
Pharmacology
and toxicology
Pharmacognosy
Pharmaceutical
microbiology and biotechnology
Clinical pharmacy
and pharmacy practice.
First year
students of chemistry take courses in the basic sciences (chemistry, physics,
biology, mathematics) and other GSTs (use of English, use of library and
information technology, citizenship education, philosophy, entrepreneurship).
Some year 2 courses include; general
principles of physiology, basic pharmaceutical biochemistry, basic
pharmaceutical microbiology, introduction to pharmacology, pharmaceutics,
pharmaceutical chemistry, introduction to pharmacy, ethics etc, with other
relevant GSTs.
Courses encountered
in year 3 (300level); pharmaceutical technology, biotechnology, biostatistics,
pathology, principles of psychology, pharmaceutical administration and
economics, phytochemistry etc
400 level
courses may include; industrial pharmacy, clinical pharmacokinetics,
phytoevaluation, pharmaceutical analysis, biopharmaceuticals, pathology,
cosmetic science, introduction to clinical pharmacy, computer application in
pharmacy and Drug Information Systems etc.
Some 500
level courses include; pharmacy clerkship, pharmacology and toxicology,
pharmaceutical public health, pharmacotherapeutics, herbal and alternative
medicine, antimicrobial compounds and resistance, clinical pharmacokinetics,
industrial pharmacy and process validation etc.
READ ALSO: COMPLETE LIST OF PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL COURSES IN NIGERIAN MEDICAL SCHOOLS
CAREER IN PHARMACY
Upon graduation from pharmacy school, one is
expected to register and get a license for practice.
Before one can be licensed, he/she needs to do
a 12-month internship program in pharmacy. The internship program is a
compulsory training for fresh pharmacy graduates under the supervision and
mentorship of registered pharmacists (preceptors) in approved by PCN internship
training centers. Registration is thus applied for after the completion of
internship program.
Internship program can be done in the
following places
Note: if an
internship center does not provide or offer all the aspects of required
pharmacy training and experience, split-site or rotational training is usually
undertaken.
Hospital (General hospitals, University Teaching Hospitals,
tertiary health centers)
Pharmaceutical
firms ( rotation needed)
Pharmacy academia (rotation required), universities and
colleges of pharmacy
Community pharmacy (rotation required)retail/chain pharmacy
Regulatory agencies
(rotation required) FMOH, NAFDAC,
NDLEA, etc.
In Nigeria, before on can be granted license
to practice, a pre-registration examination must be taken by the candidate. This
was approved by the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria(PCN) on its 39th
Regular meeting of May 21, 2015, following the report of the ad hoc committee
on pre-registration exam for graduates that have completed their internship
programs.
Roles or job
description of a pharmacist
Compounding,
packaging and dispensing of prescribed drugs and OTC drugs
Check and
review medications prescribed by other members of the health team
Provide pharmaceutical
expertise and advice to patients on medication use
Conduct health
and wellness screening
Providing immunization
and other health services
Answering patient’s
and customers’ questions
Monitoring patients’
drug therapies, providing pharmaceutical intervention and detecting therapeutic
incompatibilities
Advice and
educate healthcare team members about new medications and drug therapy
protocols
Ensure and
maintain a safe and clean working environments and patient safety
Keeping of
accurate customer records
Performs administrative
and management functions
Communicate with
the physicians and other members of the health team anytime a prescription
order is uncertain and potentially injurious or unsafe for patients.
ORGANIZATIONS
PHARMACEUTICAL COUNCIL OF NIGERIA,PCN:
A statutory body of
the Nigerian Federal Government under the Federal Ministry of Health,
established by Act 91 of 1992 (CAP p17 LFN 2004).
PCN is
charged with the responsibility for the regulation and control of pharmacy
education, training and practice in all aspects and ramification.
PCN being a
Federal Government parastatal, is responsible for regulation, registration and
licensing of all pharmacists and pharmaceutical premises (including production,
distribution, retail, hospital pharmacies and others) as well as oversees the
training and practice of pharmacy technicians ( a sub cadre of the pharmacy
profession) and licensure of patent and proprietary medicine vendors. The current
registrar of PCN is Pharm. NAE Mohammed
PhD, FPSN, FNIM
NAFDAC- NATIONAL AGENCY FOR FOOD AND
DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL: NAFDAC was established by Decree No. 15 of 1993 and now by
the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act Cap N1
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN 2014. NAFDAC was officially established in
October, 1992. NAFDAC is saddled with the responsibility of regulating and
controlling the manufacturing, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement,
sale and use of pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, food, water, cosmetics,
and regulated products
PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF NIGERIA PSN: An association of registered practicing
pharmacists in Nigeria to instill discipline and maintain professional ethics
among members. It was established in 1927 with the first president as late Mr
TKE Phillips. The association was officially recognized in 1956 as a
professional society in Nigeria by the government.
NATIONAL DRUG LAW AND ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY (NDLEA): NDLEA
was established by Decree No. 48 of 1989, now Act of parliament for the purpose
of eliminating the manufacturing, growing, possession, trafficking, sale and
consumption of hard and illicit drugs in the country.
HISTORICAL
FACTS, RECORDS AND DEVELOPMENTS
Mr Emmanuel
Caulcrick is the 1st registered Nigerian pharmacist in 1902. He
later opened a medicine store in Lagos.
Mr Richard
Zaccheus Baley (1829-1911) is the first to open a pharmacy in Nigeria in Lagos
in 1887
Training of
dispensers through apprenticeship, from 1887 to 1823
Training of
dispensers through formal school of pharmacy in school of pharmacy in Yaba and
Zaria
Training of
chemists and druggists (1927-1972)in the schools of pharmacy at Yaba and Zaria,
and in the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Ibadan.
Training of
pharmacists at Bachelors degree level from 1963 till date
Training of
pharmacists at Doctor of Pharmacy degree level from 2016 till date.
WANT TO STUDY MEDICINE AND SURGERY IN NIGERIA YOU OUGHT TO READ THIS NOW
Other
courses related to pharmacy
Pharmacology
Chemistry
Biomedical engineering
Chemical engineering
Microbiology
and biotechnology
Biochemistry
Synthetic biology
Organic chemistry
Other areas your
pharmacy degree and acquired knowledge and skills might be useful include;
Business
Banking and
financial sector
Forensics
and criminology
Legal sector
Defense
ICT and Technology sector
Food and
agriculture
Academics
Environment and
public health etc.
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