Spotlight on: Give it up for the Prescriptionist: Your guide in the pharmaceutical jungle
Even though the labor market is in desperate need of registered Prescriptionists, our Bachelor of Science Programmes in Pharmacy are struggling with low search pressure and empty study places. Now we must quickly, together and with all conceivable means, make the profession better known in society, writes Emma Lundkvist, Programme Coordinator at Uppsala University's Faculty of Pharmacy.
Sustainable healthcare requires a functioning drug supply, pharmacy market and drug use. Registered Prescriptionists (receptarie) are essential in this. Unfortunately, they have for too long been too few, and the forecasts give no hope of improvement.
At Uppsala University, our Bachelor of Science Programme in Pharmacy is struggling with few applicants and vacant study places. This in spite of a high-quality and newly revised Programme with excellent career prospects. The students who do find their way here often have their minds set on a future Master degree, even though society is in desperate need for Prescriptionists. The question is why?
The single biggest reason is likely the widespread unawareness of the profession itself. Many study counselors and job brokers don't are not familiar with the title. Our students testify how they, both frequently and long after they started on the Programme, are asked if they aim to work in the hotel business. Professional Prescriptionists tend to use the collective term “pharmacist” when describing their jobs.
So how do we turn the tide? We know that most students today skip the traditional education catalogs, preferring to search for information about educations and professions they have already heard of. If we are to ensure that healthcare will not face an even greater shortage of Prescriptionists, we must quickly, in collaboration and with all conceivable means make the profession better known in society. How about we start today?
FACTS
- Tuesday 19 March the Faculty of Pharmacy invites to the 2nd annual Bachelor of Science Programme in Pharmacy 's Popular Science Symposium, R-POPS.
- Welcome to join 14.15-15.30 at BMC, lecture hall B:42.
LEARN MORE
- Bachelor of Science Programmes in Pharmacy(180 cr)
- "The R-POPS Student symposium gets even better every year"
- Course in Health-System Pharmacy opening new career paths for Prescriptionists
CONTACT
Emma Lundkvist, Coordinator
Bachelor of Science Programme in Pharmacy
emma.lundkvist@farmaci.uu.se
Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt