The Pharmacy Technician: A Challenge for Pharmacy Education

Abstract

Pharmacy has evolved into a highly sophisticated profession. Many daily technical tasks are being delegated to personnel other than pharmacists as responsibilities and demand for services increase. The question facing pharmacy is how to support technical activities so that the public, healthcare, and profession are served with quantity and quality of services. A logical approach would be to develop a pool of well-trained technical personnel, technicians. Pharmacy technicians are currently trained through the military, technical/community colleges, vocational schools, and hospitals. Technician education has no organization to set policy, establish standards, or require compliance. Technician training and issues are profession-wide in significance if pharmacy, healthcare, and the public are to be appropriately served.