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DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & BIOPHARMACY, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS
PCL 201: INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACY
LECTURE 1
WHAT IS PHARMACY/WHO IS APHARMACIST
Pharmacy is defined as the profession of the art and science of preparing from natural and synthetic
sources, suitable and convenient materials for distribution and use in the treatment and prevention of
diseases in both man and animal.
Natural sources include plants, animals and minerals, while synthetic sources are synthetic chemicals.
The profession embraces knowledge of identification, selection, pharmacological action,
preservation, combination, analysis and standardization of drugs and medicines. It also includes proper
and safe distribution and use of medicines, that is, when properly prescribed and/or dispensed.
The word “pharmacy” was derived from the Greek word “pharmakon” which simply put in modern
terms, means “medicine” or “drug” or “a disease remedy”.
A pharmacist is a health care professional licensed to prepare, compound, and dispense drugs and also
provide clinical information on drugs or medications to health professionals and patients. A pharmacist
is a medicine or drug man. In fact, he is the only expert in drugs, because from his training and
knowledge he is expected to know “everything” about drugs: their sources, nature of their active
ingredients, uses in the body, side effects, breakdown products and their various dosage forms.
Clinical pharmacy is defined as that area of pharmacy concerned with the science and practice of
rational medication use
While drug prescribers such as physicians, dentists and veterinary surgeons are primarily interested in
the effect of drugs on their patients (their therapeutic value, pharmacological actions and toxicity) and
nurses are concerned with administration of the drugs. The pharmacist is the only expert with an allembracing knowledge of drugs and with the legal responsibility to handle all drugs.
Contrary to popular belief, pharmacy is not limited to counting and dispensing pills.In fact, the focus of
pharmacy profession has shifted from the classical dispensary role to being directly involved in patient
care with other healthcare professional.
Pharmacy is a rewarding profession in the health care system that involves working closely with doctors
and patients. No matter what health field you step into, there will always be a need for pharmacists.
They provide their expertise on the composition, use, and manufacturing of a drug, as well as its
physiological and chemical interactions. Pharmacy offers flexible work schedules, a broad spectrum of
opportunities, direct patient contact, and good salaries right out of college!
Pharmacists not only educate consumers on medication use, but also monitor their patient's health to
ensure that the patient is getting the full benefits of the drug. Pharmacists also advise doctors and other
health care professionals on making wise medication decisions. In fact, pharmacists are consistently
ranked as one of the most trusted professions for the services they render.
Due to the rapid growth of the health care system, the increasing elderly population, and the
burgeoning pharmaceutical and biotech industry, there is unprecedented demand for pharmacists
today.
Although most of us are familiar with our neighbourhood retail community pharmacy (Healthplus,
Medplusetc), many are unaware of the other exciting opportunities in the pharmacy field such as:
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Hospital Pharmacy - Staff Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacy Adminstrator
Pharmacy Consultant - Home Health Care, Long-Term Care Facilities, Internet Consultant
Pharmaceutical Industry - Research and Development, Manufacturing, Pharmacogenomics
Government Agencies - Hospice and Home Care, Public Health Services, NAFDAC inspector
College and Universities - Professor/Lecturer
Medical and Scientific Publishing - Editor-in-Chief, Science Writer
Nuclear Pharmacy - Chemotherapy pharmacist
Law - Retail Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Company Attorney even
Public health pharmacy is evolving
As you can see, the pharmacy profession is not as dull or limited as most think. It is this latitude that
makes pharmacy so appealing; when you're bored with one field, you can enter a different aspect of
pharmacy with ease! In fact, most pharmacy students go on to earn an MBA degree, and even a JD to
become a pharmacy attorney!
Assignment : Highlight the various roles of Pharmacists in the Healthcare System.