Pharmacy Technicians strengthen Local Pharmacy Services
Monday, 05 March 2012 11:27
Public Health to benefit from up-skilling of Pharmacy Staff
Local pharmacy services were strengthened with the graduation of 104 pharmacy technicians who were awarded with a level-three National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) from City and Guilds at a special ceremony held in Dublin today. Pharmacy technicians provide a vital supporting role to pharmacists in the delivery of a high-quality front-line healthcare service in the community.
Presenting the graduates with their certificates, Darragh O'Loughlin, President of the Irish Pharmacy Union, said, "Pharmacy technicians have always played a key role in our pharmacy teams. The future of pharmacy lies in developing the professional role of the pharmacist in areas such as medicine use reviews, health promotion, health screening and chronic disease management. In order for pharmacists to develop these new roles, it is essential that we have a professional and experienced pharmacy team to work alongside us to ensure that the highest possible standards in the dispensing process are maintained.
"It is only in developing our professional role that we can maintain our position as an integral part of primary health care and secure the future of the essential services we provide to our patients," Mr O'Loughlin said.
The comprehensive two-year training course for pharmacy technicians is delivered and administered by the Irish Pharmacy Union in conjunction with the National Pharmacy Association in the UK and City and Guilds.
Editor's Note:
- The training course for pharmacy technicians has been running since October 2002.
- Year One focuses on pharmacy practice, procedures, law and ethics.
- Year Two is practice based where participants need to demonstrate the required level of competence in a wide variety of areas of pharmacy practice including dispensing practice, stock control, Health and Safety, Customer Service, and I.T.
