Фармацевт

In the modern world, with the intensive development of the medical industry, new industries are emerging. Although pharmacology is a rather ancient science, few people know what a pharmacist actually does. Most imagine him as a person dispensing medicines in a pharmacy, but it turns out that such a profession has a much greater focus and diversified development.

Pharmacology and Pharmacist

Pharmacology is the science of medicines, how they are made, and how they affect the human body. Accordingly, a pharmacist is a person who is engaged in the creation and study of medicines, with subsequent implementation.

This profession has a fairly wide scope. Most often, its representatives can really be seen in pharmacies, where they are directly involved in the sale of medicines. However, in addition to this, the task of pharmacists is to select the necessary analogues, and to help determine which medicine to stop on.

Another important area of ​​pharmacology is scientific development. Such pharmacists work in research institutes, in pharmaceutical factories and in laboratories in the production of medicines.

The work of a pharmacist is not only important, but also very interesting. This branch of medicine is in constant development, because pharmacists create substances that sometimes become the only salvation for human life.

A bit of history

Herbalists or folk healers have used various potions prepared from herbs and other ingredients for the treatment of various diseases for centuries. The first mention of the study of herbs for medicinal purposes dates back to the fourth century BC. It was then that the ancient Greeks began to compose a description of the effect of herbs on the human body.

Subsequently, this case took a wide turn. There were many potions and potions designed to combat certain diseases. However, at that time, pharmacology was not distinguished as a special science, but was included in the concept of medicine.

But the first pharmacies appeared on the island of Sicily in 1231 and it was then that they left the wing of medicine and became independent organizations. At the same time, the setting of prices for medicines has become the prerogative of the state, and not doctors, as it used to be.

Around the sixteenth century, in pharmacies, in addition to the sale and manufacture of medicines, an intensive study of the medicinal properties of various components began. And already with the advent of the eighteenth century, the need arose for the production of medicines.

It was then that such a branch of medicine as pharmacology began to develop rapidly in Europe, which led to the discovery of many different drugs and contributed to the eradication of terrible deadly diseases.

In Rus’, the first pharmacy was opened by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible already in 1547. Later, around the end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth centuries, in connection with the development of the chemical industry, newer and more modern methods for the production of medicines appeared, which brought pharmacology to a higher level.

This industry does not cease to improve every day, and this is really necessary, because serious diseases are constantly changing and mutating, so newer and more modern drugs are needed to combat them. That is why pharmacists are constantly researching new and more effective methods of treatment, which sets the pace for the development of modern pharmacology.

Responsibilities of a pharmacist

There are several areas of activity in this profession. Pharmacist-seller. This is the most common activity in pharmacology. A person with this profession works in a pharmacy where he sells medicines. His main duty is to communicate with people, satisfy their needs, select high-quality analogues and substitutes for drugs, if those prescribed by a doctor are not available. Also, this category of pharmacists keeps records of medicines in a pharmacy, controls their turnover, is responsible for replenishing stocks and draws up the necessary reports.

Some specialists are engaged in the preparation of various drugs that are prescribed by prescription from the attending physician.

Pharmacist-researcher. Specialists in this field work mainly in laboratories. The main activity of such pharmacists is the in-depth study and study of bacteria, viruses, various diseases and the processes occurring in them. Currently, the most relevant areas are those where there is a search for cures for Ebola, AIDS, cancer and other serious diseases that cannot be cured. This profession is associated with a certain risk, and therefore there are several levels of access to the laboratory, differing in degree of danger, and only the most experienced employees have the privileges of working with dangerous viruses and bacteria, and are also allowed to develop a vaccine against them.

Pharmacist-employee of the production process. Such specialists work exclusively in pharmaceutical companies. They are responsible for the creation of new drugs, the calculation of the required dosages of the components, and also manage the process of their mixing.

Pharmacist-distributor. The work of these employees is more like the work of advertising agents. They work mainly for large pharmaceutical companies.

The main goal of distributors is to advertise a new drug and sell it in pharmacies and clinics. Such pharmacists are the face of a brand or pharmaceutical company, their sales representative.

Who can become a pharmacist

This profession is most suitable for people with an analytical mindset, since in their work a pharmacist is constantly faced with certain calculations. An important role is also played by a highly developed memory and ingenuity.

But in addition to all the special skills and qualities, this profession requires communication skills and high moral principles from the applicant. For successful study and work in this medical field, a specialist needs accuracy and attentiveness, responsiveness, love for people, constant self-control, responsibility and concentration, refined taste and a delicate sense of smell.

In order to become a junior specialist in the field of pharmacology, one must graduate from a medical school or a college of pharmacology.

Later, you can try your hand at a higher medical school, where there are the following specialties:

• pharmaceutical chemistry;
• pharmacy;
• pharmaceutical technology.

Also, upon graduation, based on work experience, pharmacists are assigned qualification categories:

• the second category – pharmacists with five years or more experience;
• the first category – work experience exceeds seven years;
• the highest category – more than ten years of experience in this area.

The initial step in a career as a pharmacist is postgraduate study. Working in a pharmacy or laboratory will help you eventually grow into a career as a manager or open an independent business in the field of pharmacology.

When working in pharmaceutical companies, you can reach the career of a manager, whose duties include managing a warehouse of medicines.

In conclusion

A pharmacist is a fairly demanded profession in the modern world. Many new pharmacies are constantly opening around, which require highly qualified specialists. After all, such a business brings a good income and is quite popular. However, before devoting one’s life to this profession, it is necessary to develop not only professional skills, but also personal and moral qualities.