BS in Pharmacy in the Philippines

 

 

 The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy is a four-year college degree intended for people who wants to have a career in the various fields of the pharmaceutical industry. The study of pharmacy focuses on the identification, discovery, isolation, synthesis, and formulation of biologically active compounds for clinical use.

The BS Pharmacy curriculum comprises of 72-units of CHED-mandated general education courses, 30-units essential core subjects, and 90-units professional pharmacy courses presented thru lectures and laboratory classes. The program requires Thesis and Research Project in addition to the Practicum in the three major pharmaceutical areas of internship, namely the community, hospital and manufacturing.

Graduates of BS in Pharmacy are provided with a broad spectrum of training that may lead to employment in a wide range of scientific fields, principally in higher education institutions, community drug stores, hospitals, government agencies, research establishments, public health and in the pharmaceutical industry. They may also choose to continue with Medical education.

Is Pharmacy a profession?

Pharmacy is a profession.

A graduate of BS in Pharmacy who passed the Pharmacist Licensure Examination is called a Pharmacist. Pharmacists are trained healthcare professionals who perform various roles in the healthcare industry. They are competent in managing drug stores; in identifying, developing, manufacturing and dispensing of drugs; and in providing pharmaceutical care as well as counseling clients in the proper use of both prescribed and patient chosen medications.

What are the admission requirements for BS Pharmacy?

Requirements at each school may differ, but these are the common requirements:

• Must be a high school graduate.

What skills will help you succeed in this course?

• Ability to carry out basic mathematical and statistical computations
• Critical, analytical and problem solving skills
• Adequate technical writing skills
• Being able to make observations and distinguish small differences between samples and events
• Objective viewpoint for discerning information and analyzing biases of other people
• Ability to perform various laboratory tasks independently or as part of a team
• Effective oral communication abilities

How difficult is this course?

Generally, Pharmacy is a difficult college course. There are a lot of chemistry and pharmaceutical subjects that necessitate hard work, comprehension and memorization. Laboratory discussions and thesis defense require patience, dedication and proficiency in communication. Learning about doses and several clinical procedures involve problem solving and mathematical competencies.

How long does it take to complete BS in Pharmacy in the Philippines?

The BS in Pharmacy program takes 4 years to complete. Some schools who apply the trimesteral system complete the program in shorter time.

On the Job training / Internship

CHED mandated a practicum or on-the-job training (OJT) for BS Pharmacy students as a requirement for graduation (see source - section 10). Students will undergo a total of 960 hours of hands-on training to provide them with actual experience in the various fields of pharmacy. 200 hours will be spent for each area of pharmacy, namely the retail (drugstore), clinical (hospital), and manufacturing (pharmaceutical company). The final 360 hours will be allocated to a major internship. This will help the students decide the particular specialization they will pursue and provide them the necessary competencies and skills.

Specializations of BS in Pharmacy:

• Clinical Pharmacy – focuses with the clinical or hospital aspects of pharmacology, such as giving patient accurate drug information and advising physicians in possible pharmaceutical treatments in specialized areas of practice such as psychiatry, ambulatory care, cardiology, pediatrics, critical care, neurology, etc.
• Community / Retail Pharmacy – deals with concepts, theories, and principles of marketing pharmaceutical products and entrepreneurship of pharmacy business. Aside from health care administration, the course includes pharmaceutical management, business planning, feasibility studies as well as product information, price, promotion and distribution.
• Manufacturing Pharmacy – concentrates on the study of principles, methods and technology involved in the research, development and production of various pharmaceutical products, including the requirements for packaging, equipments and manufacturing facilities.

Career opportunities for BS Pharmacy graduates

• Jobs for licensed Pharmacists (board exam passers)

  • Entry Level jobs
    Jobs requiring no prior to minimal level of experience:
    • Pharmaceutical Sales Representative (Med Rep) – are sales people employed by pharmaceutical companies to persuade doctors to prescribe their drugs to patients.
    • Community Pharmacist – works to ensure the correct and safe supply of medical products to the general public while abiding by legal and ethical guidelines; involved in maintaining and improving people's health by providing advice and information and supplying prescription medicines.
    • Hospital Pharmacist – works in a hospital pharmacy service primarily within the public sector; uses specialist knowledge to dispense drugs and advice patients about the medicines they have been prescribed; works collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to devise the most appropriate drug treatment for patients.
    • Regulatory Affairs Officer – ensures the appropriate licensing, marketing and legal compliance of pharmaceutical and medical products such as medicines, chemicals, pesticides, therapeutic devices and other products.
  • Mid-Level Positions
    Require trainings and prior job experience of a few years:
    • Pharmacy Manager – responsible for daily operational functions of the Pharmacy, training and scheduling staff, ensuring compliance with expectations; and developing and monitoring quality improvement processes
    • Process Development Pharmacist – responsible for identifying and developing new procedures for drug and medicine manufacture, as well as implementing process controls to ensure that quality products are manufactured in a reproducible manner.
    • Clinical Research Associate – employed by pharmaceutical companies to run clinical trials to test new or existing drugs for their effectiveness, risks, benefits, and to ensure they are safe to allowed on to the market.
    • Medical Research Scientist – work to develop new, or improve existing drugs, treatments or other medically related products to increase scientific knowledge on topics related to medicine through the use of experiments.
    • Pharmacologist – investigates how drugs and chemicals interact with biological systems; aims to understand how drugs work so they can be used effectively and safely; carries out research to aid drug discovery and development.
  • Advanced Positions
    Require years of extensive experience and practice:
    • Chief Pharmacist – manages and supervise the overall operations of a pharmaceutical company, be it in retail, hospital or in manufacture
    • Higher Education Professors – facilitate learning and carry out research activities in universities and some colleges of further education. They teach academic subjects to undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
    • Environmental Health Practitioners – act as advisers, educators, consultants, managers and enforcement officers, ensuring people are able to live, work and play in safe, healthy environments.

• Jobs for Non Board Passers:

  • Pharmacy Assistant – helps the Pharmacist in dispensing medicines in community, hospital or in industrial setting
  • Pharmacy Technician – help licensed Pharmacists in performing routine tasks such as counting tablets and labeling bottles to help prepare prescribed medication.