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Pharmacy There are two pharmacy related courses in Nigeria. They are pharmacy technicians and pharmaceutical technology. There is growing confusion as to what is the difference between a pharmacist, pharmacy technician and pharmaceutical technologist. Let us use this post to clear the air. Pharmacy A pharmacist is a professional trained to turn raw material into drugs (medicine), distribute, store, dispense, counsel patients on the drug use including follow up. They work in the industry, community pharmacy, hospital, drug regulatory agency, government department, research institute, etc. Read Also :  Pharmaceutical technology programme in Nigeria Pharmacists are trained in the university under five to six departments. The department includes clinical pharmacy, pharmacognosy, pharmacology (toxicology), pharmaceutical microbiology, pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmaceutical technology (pharmaceutics). This leads to the award of bachelor of pharmacy (B Pharm) after five years or doct...

Pharmacist Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians work closely together. They both focus on delivery of medication and advice to patients on medication use. They are right and left hand to each other. They have their individual roles but work together. Read Also : Everything about pharmscuetical technologist in Nigeria In some countries, pharmacy technicians are also called pharmaceutical technologists. Their job description looks the same. However, there seems to be variation in their education qualification. Difference Between Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technician And Pharmaceutical Technologist Pharmacists spend more years in school (5-6 years). They acquire their degree in the university. They are either awarded a bachelor of pharmacy (B Pharm) or doctor of pharmacy (Pharm D) degree. Pharmacy technicians in Nigeria spend about three years in school to get their certificate. They go to school or college of health to get an ordinary national diploma (OND). Their curriculum covers just the ba...

Community pharmacy Community pharmacy business is growing in Nigeria. Community pharmacy is operated by a registered pharmacist. They are under the direct supervision of the pharmacist council of Nigeria (PCN). However, so many people want to open a community pharmacy. Most of these people are not pharmacists. I keep receiving questions on who is eligible to open a community pharmacy shop. Most people ask if a registered nurse, a pharmacy technician or medical doctor can open a community pharmacy shop. Even community health extension workers (CHEW) and other paramedics wish they can open one. Register Nurse, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Doctor And CHEW The answer is that no registered nurse, pharmacy technician, medical doctor or even a CHEW can open a community pharmacy in Nigeria. However, they can open a patent (chemist) shop. You may wonder why they cannot. Let me explain. Read Also: Benefit of supplement to community pharmacy business A pharmacist is a drug expert. They know the ...

To become a pharmacy technician, you need to take classes in school approved by the pharmacists council of Nigeria (PCN) for the programme. This will guide you through the trade in three years. The school involves lectures, practical classes and externship before a final examination. The curriculum trains you to excel in hospital or retail pharmacy. The training acquired helps you address the needs of the patients and pharmacist you work with. School of pharmacy technicians are scattered around the country. Some states have more than one. Man are government own institution with few private. As long as all the schools here have been approved, they are all good. There will only be a slight difference in the curriculum which differ based on some topics that focus on pharmacy need in that state. Read Also : Career opportunity for pharmacy technician The list is always updated as more schools get approved for this. Pharmacy technician Name Of Colleges/Schools Of Health Technology 1. College...

Pharmacy Technician Sandwich Program Some years back, graduates of pharmacy technicians started practising without any form of the certification examination. Just of recent, the Pharmacists Council Of Nigeria (P.C.N) introduced a certification examination for pharmacy technician graduates.

Pharmacy technicians are like assistants to pharmacist in various sectors. That is why it is important that they receive training that will aid them in their day-to-day activities.  To achieve this, there ought to be qualified lecturer in a conducive learning environment lecturing according to a good curriculum. School of health accreditation Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (P.C.N), the body responsible for the regulation of pharmacy activity in Nigeria gave some guidelines for schools who wish to run the program in their institutions. Without meeting those conditions, such schools will not be accredited and their students will not be recognized as graduates 'pharmacy technicians.' Read Also:  How To Become A Pharmacy Technician In Nigeria The conditions are there to help build the career to meet the growing need of pharmacy technicians around the world. There are currently government and private own health institutions that have been accredited. The most common schools...

Roles Of Pharmacy Technician Pharmacy technicians are like assistants to the pharmacist in their day-to-day activities.  They are health care workers who work under the supervision of a pharmacist and performs pharmacy related functions. They are not very common in Nigeria but are growing as the years goes by. The only school of health technologies and few other health related institutions have the licence to run the program. To be a certified pharmacy technician, it is mandatory to acquire knowledge in a school approved by Pharmaceutical Council Of Nigeria (P.C.N) for three years. This provides an array of opportunities for such graduates. To start with, such ones can apply for direct entry to study pharmacy in an approved university by PCN. Aside from that, here is the list of opportunities opened to pharmacy technicians in Nigeria. Read Also:  The Various Roles Pharmacist Play In Their Sectors In Nigeria Careers Opportunity For Pharmacy Technician In Nigeria ...

Pharmacy Technician Pharmacy technicians are a group of trained personnel who assist the pharmacist in all aspects of practice. They were introduced by Pharmacists Council Of Nigeria (P.C.N) some years ago. The schools that have been licenced to run the program include most state-owned school of health technology e.g. School of Health Technology, Ofuoma, Ughelli. This is in addition to some other health institutions including some newly approved private health institute. These schools also offer other health-related courses such as Community Health Extension Workers (C.H.E.W). In all and all, the method of admission and training is similar.