The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 266 No 7151 p784-787
June 9, 2001

  Code of Ethics
  RPM
  Medicines promotion
  Parallel imports
  Patient packs
  Disillusioned youth
  Veterinary medicines
  Travel medicine
  Nurse prescribing
  Working conditions
  Mutual recognition
  Disinfection techniques

Disillusioned youth (4 letters)

There are opportunities

From Mr H. A. Jeraj, MRPharmS

I have considerable sympathy with Ian Wood (PJ, May 12, p654) and Ben Hewitt (PJ, May 26, p719). It is quite clear that in reality the pharmaceutical service which the customer (the Government or the patient) requires, expects and, more importantly, is willing to pay for can be adequately delivered by pharmacy technicians. As a consequence many pharmacists are underemployed professionally and are unable to put into practice the knowledge gained during their degree course, which results in dissatisfaction and demotivation. I cannot see this situation changing significantly.

I would say that there are many areas of pharmaceutical sciences in industry and some in hospitals, eg, manufacturing and quality control as well as research and development, which pharmacy graduates would find rewarding and professionally fulfilling. Again these opportunities are not entirely confined to the pharmaceutical industry but also exist in biotechnology and medical devices industries.

H. Jeraj
Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Give it time

From Mrs J. Dunbar, MRPharmS

With reference to a point in the correspondence from Ian Wood (PJ, May 12, p654), I would say that things have not changed a lot over the past 40 years in regard to the training of pharmacists and their expectations of their first post after qualification.

I qualified in the late 1950s, and I did find my first post fulfilling, in that, at that time most of the customers were extremely grateful for any small help and advice received. I believe that even nowadays there will always be someone who will proffer thanks for a job well done and make the pharmacist’s work worthwhile. 

Do persevere a little longer Mr Wood before looking for an alternative career. Pharmacy can be a rewarding profession but, like every other profession, the qualification is just the beginning of the learning process. Give it time.

Jeanne Dunbar
Morpeth, Northumberland

Deciding one’s own destiny

From Mr P. Clark, MRPharmS

I write in reply to Ben Hewitt’s letter (PJ,May 2, p719). I was under the impression that there was a shortage of pharmacists at present and that the big companies were running many of their branches using locums. I was further under the impression that pharmacy was a respected profession, the members of which can decide their own destiny.

Need I say more?

Peter Clark
Midhurst, West Sussex

Insult to technicians

From Mrs M. Highsted

I read with incredulity the letter from Ben Hewitt regarding the nature of pharmacy today (PJ, May 26, p719). He states that dispensing is a mindless packing job suitable for robots and then says that only dispensing technicians should dispense.

This is an insult to my colleagues and myself and I would urge Mr Hewitt to take heed of the advice given in other letters to The Journal. The job is what one makes it. I could not do my job if it only involved labelling packets. I work in community pharmacy and have built up a good relationship with many of our customers. Indeed many of them ask for my advice rather than that of the pharmacist.

I am horrified by the lack of knowledge possessed by some of today’s young pharmacists compared with that of those a few years ago. I feel that if they took more of an interest in gaining knowledge after qualification they would get more out of their careers.

Marilyn Highsted
Caterham, Surrey

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