Pharmacy is a health profession that links health sciences with chemical sciences and is responsible for the safe use and effectiveness of pharmaceutical preparations. The word pharmacy is derived from the Greek pharmakeia (Greek: φαρμακεία), meaning medicine or medicine, and it is one of the three foremost medical sciences. The pharmacy profession is not limited to its traditional role of dispensing and synthesizing medicines. Still, it provides much modern health care such as clinical services, reviewing medicines’ safety, effectiveness, and information. Thus, the pharmacist is the expert in treatment and drugs. They are the primary health professionals who determine the optimal use of the drug to obtain favorable patient results. The snake and mortar are usually used as a symbol of the ancient profession of pharmacology. Galen and Ibn Hayyan presented an indication of the manufacture of chemical and herbal drugs and the toxins they may contain and indications.

The main pharmacy branches and departments are:

1. Pharmacology and pharmaceutical industry
2. Pharmaceutical chemistry and drugs
3. Pharmacological practice and clinical pharmacy.

And pharmacology has always been considered the fourth basis for pharmacy.

A person who wants to study pharmacy is heading to determine his future goal and desire. Does he want to open a community pharmacy? Or does he want the pharmaceutical industry or scientific research and development? Does he want to become a university professor in pharmaceutical sciences??

He must have the talent and the desire to practice a health profession. He must know in advance that it will specialize in chemistry and biology, and it will be one of the human professions that will need discipline and patience.

Perhaps the seriousness of pharmacology requires him to be diligent, persevering, and diligent. The subjects will require him to make great efforts to pass the university stage successfully.

He will also face challenges like all other professions in terms of numbers in such sciences will be primarily due to the desire of Arab societies to study one of the three medical sciences, which is human medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy.

Also, there is no doubt that he/she will face a false belief in society that the pharmacist is a seller of the drug. He must be prepared to face this with determination and challenge.

What your study will be about? And how many years? 

In general, (not limited to as each university decides on the courses required for graduations) you’ll learn about Information Tech, Behavior Sciences, Chemistry, Basic Math, Biochemistry, Medicine for pharmacy services, Toxicology, Pharmacy Implementation, Knowledge of diseases, Records and Stocking, Management for Pharmacy, Medical Herbs, Tech in Medicine, Drugs and substances, Medical Terminology, Information technology, Anatomy and Phycology systems, Medical Law, Ethics, Communications, Microbiology, Accounting, Business, Management, Information System in Health Services, Scientific Research Methods,  

In addition to the above, the future pharmacist needs accuracy, attention to detail, integrity, Scientific aptitude, Mathematical skills, Interpersonal skills, Communication skills, Advocacy, Multitasking skills, Analytical skills, and Prioritizing skills.

The Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy needs to attend a full-time university for five years. In case you are learning in a different language than your mother language, you may need one year in preparation for the language. 

What Pharmacy Graduate Do?

Main fields where pharmacy graduated can work like: 

1. Community pharmacies are pharmacies widespread and known to all members of society.
2. Hospital pharmacy where the pharmacist performs the clinical work of preparing the appropriate treatment for the patient and adjusting the appropriate doses according to the disease condition. And his work is often from behind the sines where he deals with the medical staff only.
3. Here the pharmacist may practice clinical pharmacy.
4. Pharmacy: The installation and preparation of medicines, and here it is located in the industrial pharmacy box.
5. Academic field, where the pharmacist specializes in pharmaceutical sciences, such as pharmacology, toxicology, or pharmacology and pharmaceutical chemistry.

Other pharmacy fields such as veterinary and nuclear pharmacy (preparing radioactive materials to diagnose and treat some diseases), military pharmacy, informatics, and internet pharmacy.

Advanced research institutes in creating modern therapeutic combinations and annual vaccines for viral diseases, especially what may appear suddenly, such as what happened from covid 19, is usually supervised by pharmacists specializing in scientific research. 

Finally, “I must point out that pharmacology is a sophisticated science that the student draws from various sciences”.

Article by:

Dr. Ameed Shreem
Graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Ghazi University, Ankara 1993
Founding member of the Turkey-Palestine Alumni Association
Palestine