| Pharmacists in Canada are now moving over and | | | | communication skills. The curriculum followed by |
| going beyond routine duties like sitting behind the | | | | Canadian pharmacy schools has evolved well in |
| counter, collecting drugs and counting them. In | | | | the last few years to cover these emerging |
| fact, the industry is now witnessing a paradigm | | | | areas and to provide students with the edge |
| shift and pharmacists are at the centre of this | | | | needed to obtain employment after obtaining their |
| new development in that country.Canada is now | | | | degrees.Drug manufacturers have been roped in |
| grooming a new generation of pharmacists who | | | | by many reputed pharmacy schools to aid |
| are now even counseling patients and giving them | | | | pharmacy students in choosing their streams |
| advice on the best and cost effective drugs. This | | | | from a wide range of options. Pharmacists are |
| new dimension to the career of a Canadian | | | | also being guided to grow into the excellent |
| pharmacist has been attributed to the | | | | community pharmacists who go on to become |
| developments in the industry as a whole and the | | | | the first link in the health care system. They are |
| need to adapt to new market trends. Pharmacists | | | | expected to play a significant role in ensuring that |
| are now being trained to adopt a patient centric | | | | the patients receive the best drug therapy. |
| approach, which also includes taking over some of | | | | Pharmacists can also specialize in fields like |
| the duties, hitherto performed by doctors.Budding | | | | oncology, infectious disease, psychiatry, etc. |
| Canadian pharmacists are also being taught to | | | | Specializations help them in playing their role in |
| identify, mitigate and prevent problems related to | | | | various health care teams.The industry also wants |
| medication. While the field of pharmacy is ever | | | | pharmacists in areas like clinical research, |
| changing and evolving, pharmacists are now | | | | marketing and public relations. They are also being |
| required to be on their toes all the time and adapt | | | | involved in preparing information materials related |
| to changes in all the three modes of drug sale | | | | to drugs and in educating pharmacists, physicians |
| including online, mail order and conventional | | | | and patients.As of now, 9 universities in Canada |
| methods. Pharmacy schools are now giving special | | | | are having pharmacy schools. The admission |
| training in these aspects. A pharmacist should | | | | requirements usually vary from one university to |
| learn to cope with the bulk of information flowing | | | | another. After obtaining a Bachelors degree in |
| in or he could be overwhelmed just by the | | | | pharmacy, one has to pass a national board |
| number of new drugs that are hitting the market | | | | examination through the Pharmacy Examining |
| every year.Special emphasis is also placed on | | | | Board of Canada. After this, one can also get |
| learning about the laws and regulations that are in | | | | some practical experience through an internship |
| place in Canada and the prevalent public health | | | | program. Different provinces in Canada have put |
| policy at the provincial or national government | | | | forth different requirements for becoming a |
| levels. Pharmacists are also required to liaise with | | | | licensed pharmacist.In 2002, the American Council |
| community support groups and with ailment | | | | on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) began |
| related groups like the local associations like the | | | | recognizing the accreditations awarded by the |
| local lung association and local diabetics association. | | | | Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy |
| This mandates the knowledge of public relations | | | | Programs (CCAPP) for programs leading to a |
| work not to mention possession of good | | | | baccalaureate degree in pharmacy. |