The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7438 p172
10 February 2007

Society summary

Ethnic minorities attracted to careers in pharmacy

An analysis of the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists suggests that careers in pharmacy are popular with people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.

The analysis, based on the Register in August 2006, indicates that 27 per cent of pharmacists identified themselves as being from from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, compared with 9 per cent for the general population, as estimated in the 2001 Population and Housing Census. The breakdown was white 73 per cent, Asian 18 per cent, Chinese 4 per cent, black 3 per cent, mixed 1 per cent and other 1 per cent.

Among new entrants to the Register over the previous year, the proportion from black and ethnic minority backgrounds was over 40 per cent [roughly twice the proportion from such backgrounds who go on to higher education generally, as shown by Universities and Colleges Admissions Service figures].

The report, entitled “Your Register report: the Society’s Registers in 2006”, has been produced to assist workforce planners, researchers, the Government, devolved administrations and employers. It can be accessed from the registration page of the Society’s website.

Other details from the breakdown include the following:

Totals In August 2006, 47,068 pharmacists were registered with the Society, of whom 7,534 (16 per cent) were on the non-practising Register. Although higher than the 2005 figure, the total number is still less than in 2004, after which a change in the retention fee structure led to a drop in registrations.

New entrants There were 2,603 new entrants to the Register between August 2005 and August 2006. Most (79 per cent) were aged under 30 years. Two-thirds (67 per cent) were female. Registrants from overseas accounted for 446 new entrants, with Poland (179) being the most represented country.

Exits from Register The number of names removed from the Register between August 2006 and August 2006 was 1,932, of whom 57 per cent were male and 48 per cent were aged 65 or over.

Non-practising pharmacists The number of non-practising pharmacists on the register was 7,534 (16 per cent of the total), of whom 49 per cent were female.

Age The analysis shows that more than two-thirds of the pharmacists were aged under 50 years (71 per cent). The number of pharmacists aged 65 or over was 10 per cent, a decrease from 13 per cent in 2002.

Sex More than half of all pharmacists (56 per cent) were female, with the proportion highest in the younger age groups. The figure has risen from 52 per cent in 2002. Among non-practising pharmacists women accounted for 49 per cent.

Location The survey found that more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of pharmacists have a registered address in England, with 9 per cent in Scotland, 5 per cent in Wales and 10 per cent overseas. These figures have been fairly static since 2002, with a slight decrease in the proportion of overseas addresses (from 11 per cent) and a slight increase in the proportion of addresses in England (from 75 per cent).

Future pharmacists The survey found that 1,821 preregistration trainees were undertaking placements in June 2006; 1,332 candidates passed the Society’s summer 2006 registration examination. About 9,465 students were studying for an MPharm degree, of whom 2,761 were new first-year students.

Pharmacy technicians On 31 July 2006 there were 3,633 persons on the voluntary register of pharmacy technicians. Of these, 94 per cent were female and 99 per cent were registered as practising. Eighty-six per cent had registered addresses in England, 7 per cent in Scotland, 6 per cent in Wales and 1 per cent overseas.

Pharmacy premises On 31 July 2006, 12,423 pharmacies were registered with the Society, of which 12,128 were community pharmacies and 295 were hospital pharmacies. Of the total, 84 per cent were in England, 10 per cent in Scotland and 6 per cent in Wales. Ownership data showed that 48 per cent were owned by multiple pharmacy companies, 4 per cent by medium chains, 7 per cent by small chains and 41 per cent by independent proprietors.