A Pharmacy Technician is a person who works in a pharmacy.
A Pharmacy Technician is a qualified health care worker that works alongside a pharmacist to do pharmacy-related tasks.
Patients get expert treatment and guidance regarding their health and prescriptions from them.
The Pharmacy Technician is critical online chemist to the dispensary’s safe and effective operation.
The technician is often the first person to welcome and speak with a patient regarding their medication.
After approving the patient’s prescription, the technician will verify that it is lawful.
At this point, the technician will inform the pharmacist of any other questions or concerns the patient may have.
They may begin administering after they have obtained all of the necessary information.
They’ll leave the completed prescription, along with any remarks for the pharmacist, ready for the final check after collecting and labeling the pills.
For example, if the patient is allergic to penicillin, there are additional counseling notes for the patient, such as whether or not to take medications with or after meals.
The technician will keep track of the dispensary’s inventory and organize documentation, such as monthly claims.
What Are A Pharmacy Technician’s Responsibilities?
In the pharmacy, the technician is in charge of a variety of responsibilities.
These responsibilities include delivering medicines and monitoring patient-monitored dose methods known as blister packs.
The technician will organize the documentation from suppliers, such as invoices and credit notes.
Preparing and reporting monthly claims to the HSE in a timely manner is another crucial obligation.
Technicians will buy medications, communicate with wholesaler drug reps, and keep track of stock rotation.
The technician is in charge of keeping the dispensary clean and orderly.
They will also work at the front of the store, where they will counsel customers about their ailments and help them choose the appropriate over-the-counter medications in a confident and professional manner.
The technician may also be in charge of training new personnel and ensuring proper handover to existing employees.
Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of settings.
A Pharmacy Technician’s work environment may be quite diverse.
The most common positions are community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy, while others include wholesale distribution, supply chain & procurement, academic, management, and pharmaceutical sales.
What Are The Obstacles A Pharmacy Technician Faces?
Community pharmacy presents numerous obstacles and may be quite stressful at times, since pharmacies are often fast-paced locations to work in.
Understaffing and lengthy work hours, including weekends, are some of the causes behind this.
Weekends may be especially difficult since physicians’ offices are closed, making it difficult to settle concerns swiftly.
Covid-19 has been a particularly hard moment for technicians and all pharmacy employees; being a front-line worker is both demanding and tiring, but also highly gratifying.
Staff absences due to close contact and positive tests have placed pharmacies under a lot of strain, making it even more difficult to guarantee pharmacy safety at all times.
What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Pharmacy Technician?
A higher qualification in science is required to become a Pharmacy Technician in Ireland, which may be obtained by applying to a variety of institutions around the nation.
It is available at the Technology University of Dublin, Bray Institute of Further Education, Athlone Technology, The Dublin Institute of Technology, and the Carlow Institute of Technology, among others.
The Irish Pharmacy Union offers a distance learning program for those who want to become pharmacy technicians.
This is a two-year program designed for those who are currently employed in community pharmacy but want to further their careers.
This is a highly practical option to become a Pharmacy Technician since the student may still work at the same time as he or she studies.
Being able to learn from pharmacy professionals with decades of combined expertise is a huge asset while pursuing a degree in pharmacy.
Carlow IT was a rewarding experience for me personally, since I went for two years and learned a lot.
It comprised classroom instruction, hands-on labs, group projects, and an internship in a pharmacy.
At times, the course was difficult, but the teachers were quite helpful and kind.
What Makes a Good Pharmacist Technician, in Your Opinion?
Good technicians must be flexible and organized, as well as excellent communicators.
There are instances when interacting with the public might be challenging.
A technician’s day might be filled with a variety of challenging activities that need fast thinking and problem solving skills.
Long and physically and mentally exhausting days call for plenty of stamina.
In order to provide the best service possible, a technician must care about and have empathy for their patients.
How Much Do Pharmacy Technicians Make?
As a Pharmacy Technician, income may vary widely, particularly in community pharmacies where experience and negotiation play a major role in determining your salary.
Technicians in Ireland make an average annual salary of €30,299, or about 15 euros per hour.
A senior technician at a hospital may earn up to €50,384 per year.
This is due to the fact that there is more scope for advancement within the company and a wider variety of job opportunities, as well as the fact that each position has a set salary.