WITH the growth in the fields of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, life sciences and research in Singapore, it is no surprise that there is an increasing demand for pharmacists.
However, there are just 0.3 practising pharmacists per 1,000 population here — the lowest among developed countries, from 1.2 in France and Japan to 0.4 per 1,000 population in Denmark.
To bump up the numbers, the Ministry of Health is looking to recruit pharmacists from overseas over the next five years, Ministry of Health chief pharmacist Ang Hui Gek (picture) told Today.
"We'll need more pharmacists, and the supply of local graduates will not be not enough to meet the demand," she said.
Last year, the National University of Singapore's pharmacy department produced 150 graduates, up from 41 in 1996. [i thought it's like only 80-90]
But this is still not enough, Ms Ang added. Ideally, 200 new pharmacy graduates should join the workforce every year.
And of the 1,482 pharmacists on the register here, less than half are involved in direct patient care such as practising in hospitals, polyclinics and retail pharmacies.
This, at a time when pharmacists have become more than mere custodians of medicine, but also an important part of the healthcare delivery system. They now make the rounds at hospital wards with doctors to ensure patients get safe, effective drugs.
So, among the amendments to the Pharmacist Registration Act, which will be debated in Parliament this week, is one to allow the conditional and temporary registration of foreign-trained pharmacists.
This is the first time in more than 20 years that amendments are being made to the Pharmacists Registration Act, which was drafted in 1979.
A Pharmacist Specialists Register will also be set up to anticipate more of such healthcare professionals.
To further upkeep industry standards, all pharmacists will have to undergo compulsory continuing professional education — just like doctors and dentists. A specialist register will be also set up.
In addition, the current Singapore Pharmacy Board will be converted into a new statutory body known as the Singapore Pharmacy Council, with more rigorous registration and disciplinary frameworks put in place.
抢我的饭碗！
haha... why foreign talent AGAIN?!
ya i agree with cheryl they shd juz increase our pay and make us stay in the clinical area.
i also think that they should like pharmacists feel more recognised, instead of downplaying our roles by some economic constraints. why is everything so Singapore?!
i think it should be more of an issue of making us stay in the field...
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for entertainment...the 王力宏 song which made me look for the album. 帅!
