Pharmacists are medicine and healthcare experts
As medicine experts, pharmacists are essential members of the healthcare team. They're trusted by other healthcare professionals to assess prescriptions and recommend the best combination of medicines.
Pharmacists also work directly with patients, helping them understand their medicines, and use their medicines in the most effective way.
But this is just part of their role. As a pharmacist, you can assess and treat some conditions, prescribe medication, and give life-saving vaccinations. This is the future of pharmacy – going beyond the script.
Pharmacists are the health professionals you see most often
Pharmacists often work in community pharmacies like Antidote, Life Pharmacy, or Unichem; in hospital pharmacies; and in medical clinics.
For these reasons, pharmacists are the health professionals you see most often. They're truly at the heart of healthy communities.
Pharmacists can also work alongside pharmaceutical scientists to develop new medicines – or with government and research organisations.
Pharmacists make a difference in our communities
As a pharmacist, you can make an authentic difference to the lives of your patients, their whānau, and their communities.
Some patients have chronic or ongoing health issues, and rely on regular contact with community pharmacists to help manage their conditions. Other patients have an acute (short-term) condition that can be treated by medication. This might be supplied by community or hospital pharmacists.
Without access to local pharmacies, patients could suffer from dangerous or incorrect medicines use, or unnecessary delays in receiving treatment.
Pharmacists have excellent career opportunities
The world needs pharmacists. A career in pharmacy allows you to spend each day helping patients and communities, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
You'll have the opportunity to specialise in many different areas – including clinical pharmacy, which involves actively treating patients and prescribing medications.
And you'll have the opportunity to run your own business, either as an owner of a community pharmacy store, or as a partner in a larger pharmacy network.
Pharmacists have a great work–life balance
Most pharmacies open during regular business hours. This gives you a great work–life balance with no overnight shifts, and no midnight call-outs.
And after five years on the job, you can earn over NZ$100,000 per year – that's double the average salary in New Zealand.
You'll have the opportunity to run your own business. You can work normal hours. And most importantly, you'll make a genuine difference to people's lives.
Pharmacy at Otago: Go beyond the script
Here at New Zealand's most innovative pharmacy school, we're teaching the next generation of full-scope pharmacists. Will you join us?