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The profession
Too many pharmacy graduates
From Mr D. L. Norris,
MRPharmS
I read with interest Rob
Duncombe’s letter on the quantity and quality
of pharmacy students (PJ, 14 May, p584).
I have often wondered if there is any correlation between the number of
undergraduates entering pharmacy schools and the average annual number
of job vacancies in the various branches of pharmacy employment.
If the former significantly exceeds the latter, then the only beneficiaries
will be the pharmacy schools, through extra funding, and the employers
anticipating lower pharmacist salaries, as a result of over supply.
With respect to the quality of graduates, there is presently an article
in the Daily Telegraph about a possible “dumbing down” of results
at one of our pharmacy schools — which, if true, is a cause of great
concern.
The pharmaceutical profession should be aware of this potentially serious
problem of graduate over- supply. Perhaps the Council should look into
it and publish its conclusions.
I see many applications from young graduates, particularly with degrees
in chemistry, often from universities I have never heard of, desperately
trying to secure positions in the industry. In some cases their previous
experience amounts to serving at Wetherspoons or McDonald’s with
commensurate remuneration.
It would be a pity if some future pharmacy graduates were destined to end
up on the wrong side of the counter at McDonald’s.
David Lees Norris
Quorn,
Leicestershire |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal