The world of pharmacy:  

Between science and grandmas recipe 

Working in the pharmacy – What exactly goes on there? What does a pharmacy do apart from dispensing medicines? Why should I study pharmacy or become a pharmacy specialist? We asked these and other questions to experts from the pharmacy.  

The first impressions of a pharmacy were already experienced in childhood, when one liked to go there to get the dextrose from the nice people in white coats. From the background of the visit to the pharmacy, likely an illness, a previous visit to the doctor, a prescription and the purchase of a drug in this very pharmacy remained rather in the background. Only the sweets and the friendly smile remain in memory. 

And this is exactly how the pharmacy professionals go about their daily work. They deal with all customers individually and pay attention to their wishes, concerns and needs. The job is also exciting when you come across unusual or interesting “cases”. Patients who come to the pharmacy with a complex problem are a task that one would like to solve with the available expertise. Seeing the gratitude and relief on the customers’ faces is a fulfilling feeling of having done something to improve their health.  

What is currently a challenge?  

For example, many customers are not receiving their desired medication at the moment. The reason: supply shortages! We at the pharmacy do our best to find alternative ways to help our customers. As an international pharmacy, we have the possibility to import medicines from abroad, among others from Germany or America and even from Japan. Another option would be to produce the medicines ourselves, which is only possible for a few pharmacies due to today’s regulations. So our job is always exciting due to different factors and we are constantly working to find a solution for the patient’s medical problems and to meet the requirements.  

Pharmacy professions – a great responsibility  

First and foremost, attention is paid to the safety of the therapy and the quality of the medication. In the pharmacy, the safety of the therapy is checked, for example, by the so-called interaction check; are the medicines compatible with each other?, What are the possible side effects that the customer must be aware of, etc.? Likewise, no medicine may be dispensed without guaranteed quality. Among other things, delivery conditions and storage temperatures play an important role, and ensuring these is also an important task of the pharmacy staff. 

How important is cooperation with pharmaceutical companies?  

There are countless medicines, medical and cosmetic products on the market which are manufactured and distributed by national and international companies. A professional and trustworthy cooperation with these pharmaceutical companies is indispensable to ensure safety and efficacy at all times and to be able to ask questions in case of uncertainties. As professionals, we also very much appreciate being able to undergo further training on a regular basis. Webinars accredited by Pharmasuisse, for example, are particularly valuable for us because they allow us to learn new things in a convenient way and to collect important training points.  

Why I decided to study pharmacy  

Even as a young girl, I was a helpful person who took responsibility at home as an older sister and helped the siblings. When I went to school, the subject of chemistry appealed to me a lot. Like many others, I was spoilt for choice after my Matura and decided to study pharmacy. The study programme is broadly diversified: consisting of the subject areas of chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology as well as pharmacology, the “teaching of medicines”. This diversity means that no one ever gets bored during their studies, and the opportunities in the working world are all the greater after graduation. Many graduates go into pharmacy, but you can also find a place in pharmaceutical companies, hospitals or health institutions.  

The pharmacy profession as my passion  

As an employee:in a pharmacy you can make so much difference! The pharmacy is the first point of contact for all kinds of problems: be it medical, but also personal concerns where we can provide real help. We do not only have an advisory function with regard to taking medication, but we are also very good listeners and persons of trust. Behind the scenes, many pharmacies have a small laboratory where ointments and creams are mixed or capsules are made. These different fields of application make the profession so versatile and varied.   

Are you interested in working in a pharmacy? Then come and have a look!  

Young people who are interested in medicine and health should definitely come and have a look at the pharmacy. This gives them the chance to see what all goes on behind the scenes. There are also pharmacies that already practise tryout days for children on National Future Day and thus show how much fun you can have in a pharmacy. One of the most popular activities during these tryouts is taking chocolate out of the “medicine robot”. In this way, the youngsters get excited about working in a pharmacy at a young age.   

Now the question: Why go to the pharmacy? 

Every person comes into the pharmacy with a special story that brings new challenges waiting to be solved. Not only the varied field, but also the joy of satisfied customers after a consultation give you a lot of pleasure every day!   

What does Medinova do for pharmacies? 

Medinova’s competent sales force is available to pharmacies on a daily basis, presenting news and asking for needs. We are also committed to continuing education through a wide range of accredited webinars, for a straightforward way to keep learning and expanding your knowledge. Medinova has supported continuous professional development since 2018 with over 30 webinars per year. Professionals are welcome to sign up for our monthly newsletter to keep up to date with our educational offerings and product news. Please contact our sales force.