ST. PAUL – For many people, when they hear the word pharmacist, it is the people who they provide their prescriptions and receive medication. While this perception may have been accurate in the past, there is now much more involved in the profession.
Being a pharmacist means having many other duties aside from just providing medication. “That’s the old perception about pharmacy,” says Ahmed Aboelsaoud, a pharmacist and owner of St. Paul-based Catalyst Pharmacy.
Aboelsaoud says the profession has expanded, with pharmacists being able to write lab requisitions, run pharmacist-led clinics, or even prescribe medications, depending on the pharmacist’s qualifications.
Asad Kashani, owner of Shoppers Drug Mart in St. Paul and Lloydminster, agrees. “It’s just not simply [providing] medications anymore.”
Kashani says pharmacists are now able to assess a person, and depending on the results of the assessment, pharmacists may be able to provide prescriptions, send patients for lab work, provide vaccinations when a person is travelling to a foreign destination, and they can also give referrals if a patient requires massage therapy or physiotherapy.
“It’s a multi-task job,” he says, providing more specific examples, like how some pharmacies can offer tests for strep throat, then provide medication.
Jinky Bolante, pharmacy license manager at Saddle Lake Pharmacy, affirms, noting the profession has evolved over the past years.
Pharmacists can help with injections, medication review, comprehensive annual care plans and follow-up, diabetes assessments, smoking cessation programs, “and so much more.”
Pharmacists have now become an easily accessible healthcare provider, often allowing the public to access services without an appointment.
Specializations
Bolante also says there are now many pharmacists with different specializations. For example, “Some pharmacists do have additional prescribing authority and can help in various minor ailments and prescribe medication accordingly.”
Kashani agrees, explaining pharmacies can acquire extra knowledge, education, and then certification, in addition to their initial schooling.
Day-to-day work
Because of the evolution of the profession, Kashani explains the day-to-day work varies and every day is different.
For example, one of the things pharmacists do daily is assess patients if they may need a different medication than the one they have been taking.
“As you get older, your body changes… kidney functions, liver functions… everything changes,” says Kashani, explaining assessing the medication needs of patients are just some of the things pharmacists do, “even without people knowing."
Shortage
While pharmacists have expanded their scope, there are new challenges that come with it. In Alberta, the number of individuals requiring medical assistance is increasing, but there is a lack of people in the profession, says Kashani.
“There’s a huge shortage of pharmacists across the country,” Kashani adds, explaining this is possibly due to fewer pharmacists immigrating to the country or decreased number of students in Canadian pharmacy schools.
The current number of pharmacists is not enough for the needs of the market, says Kashani. “That puts a lot of pressure on the people who are already practicing.”
Aboelsaoud agrees. He often works six days a week.
While there may be challenges in the profession, Aboelsaoud says many pharmacists share a common trait and goal – to help people.
“You’re building relations with a lot of people… see different characters every day. You’re solving problems.”
And being able to help people is what brings satisfaction to many pharmacists, says Aboelsaoud.
Kashani agrees. “Anything they need, we will do as much as we can in our power and expertise within our resources to support and provide for them.”
