Working as a Pharmacist in the UK.

[diver pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Pharmanaut

Tell us about pharmacy in Cyprus and how the health system works there?

What do you want to know? Where do you want me to start from?

[diver pharmacist]

The basics are:

The health-care services in Cyprus are divided in two separate and not-related sectors. These are the public sector and the private sector.

You may find more information regarding the structure and scope of the Cyprus Ministry of Health in this link

There is also a specific site for the MOH department of the Pharmaceutical services in this link. There are aproximately 170 pharmacists working in this sector, in the various departments that are administration, legislation, different councils and comittees as well as in the public pharmacies that are based either in hospitals or other centers around Cyprus. The main task of pharmacists who work in these pharmacies is dispencing. They work five days per week for a total of 38 hours and the starting salary is 18K.

Working in the private sector is completely different in terms of the day-to-day work. I am working in this sector.

There are approximately 450 privately owned pharmacies around the island (the total population does not exceeds 1 million). Chain-type businesses is not allowed. This has been a recent achievement of the Cyprus Association of Pharmacists. We managed to create this barrier to external investors and to people who are not related to our profession. That makes competition to be more fair and between equals. Prices are regulated by the MOH, therefore, there is no competition in prices either! A pharmacist may be the owner of a single retail outlet and she/he is not allowed to open a second one.

Normally there is only one pharmacist working in every pharmacy probably with one or more assistants. An average pharmacy has around 100 customers every day. We do have the over the counter area and an area reserved for dispencing.

A pharmacist is doing perhaps more or the less the same type of work as a pharmacist anywere else with regards of councelling, public relations, give instructions for the proper use of medications. In addition we have to do an inventory control which is mostly computerised and maintaining the records for prescriptions etc.

We also have POM and OTC as well as narcotic, psychotropic categories that are regulated just like in the UK. Perhaps some differences from the UK is that patients with chronic disorders on medication for hyperlipidemias, diabetes, hypertension, etc are walking in any pharmacy asking for a branded medicine and the pharmacist would not ask for any prescription. The only case to ask for a prescription is the case of psychotropic agents, hormones and antibiotics to a lesser extent. One can buy any quantity of paracetamol even from kiosks in Cyprus. There is no re-packing of tablets in other container than the one used originally by the manufacturer. The most of the tablets are being sold in a branded packet. Counting pills is not an issue. We never count pills. The prescriptions are for multiplies of the original packets.

The most of the pharmacists in Cyprus are running their own business and in the private sector they work for 47 hours per week with 15 days holidays in summer. The gross profit margin on sales for pharmaceutical products is 25% or more for certain special offer items. The annual turnover of the average pharmacy is 250K STG and that is translated to an annual take-home money of 50K. There are however pharmacies with significantly higher revenews than the average. The best pharmacy owner in Cyprus earns something like 250K per year or more. Cost of leaving in Cyprus might be less than the UK and 50K is considered as a very high income. The average salary in Cyprus is approximately 11K. The salary for me as a part-time pharmacist is considered also a very good-income.

If there is anything specific you would like to know I would be happy trying to inform you as best as I can.

Cheers!

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by diver pharmacist

If there is anything specific you would like to know I would be happy trying to inform you as best as I can.

Cheers!

Many thanks, that was very informative.

[Zoggite]

Diver,
The situation you describe in Cyprus sounds a lot closer to the one I was used to in Belgium!
Out of curiosity, is it also similar to the Greek pharmacy system? I spend 2 months/year in Greece and have often wondered what a Greek pharmacist's life is like; I know Cyprus is technically a different country, but...?
How can Cypriot pharmacists get away with selling POMs without a prescription- aren't they afraid of being reprimanded by some pharmacy inspector?

[diver pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Zoggite

Diver,
Out of curiosity, is it also similar to the Greek pharmacy system? I spend 2 months/year in Greece and have often wondered what a Greek pharmacist's life is like; I know Cyprus is technically a different country, but...?
How can Cypriot pharmacists get away with selling POMs without a prescription- aren't they afraid of being reprimanded by some pharmacy inspector?

Yes it is pretty much the same. Differences do occur though due to the fact that in Greece there is a different National Health System. In Cyprus we are still struggling to launch the so called National Health Plan! In Greece there is one!

Originally Posted by Zoggite

Diver,
How can Cypriot pharmacists get away with selling POMs without a prescription- aren't they afraid of being reprimanded by some pharmacy inspector?

Technically we are not allowed to sell POMs w/o prescription. It is illegal. Ethically, if we are convinced that the patient is using this medication with medical advice we can sell him/her a POM without having nightmares. It is risky, I know. Particularly in the event that someone has a severe adverse effect you may get a real headache but apparently so far we did not have such incident as a pharmacist being accused for this reason!

Psychotropic agents, hormones and antibiotics are the only target for inspectors. I know this is not logical as the criteria are neither patient's safety nor any other legal background! Why only these categories? Psychotropic for obvious reasons. Hormones due to anti-doping campaing. Antibiotics due to some efforts by the MOH to stop pharmacists from selling antibiotics and by this prevent the development of resistant bacteria as a result of antibiotics abuse and misuse. It is however "funny" to see everyday antibiotic prescriptions like Amoxicillin for 2, 3 days or 5 days and under dosage. We also have patients who are using only 2-3 capsules and then they stop comply to the dosage scheme. MOH campaing stops at the pharmacy. People in Cyprus doesn't seem to be educated about the use of antibiotics and MOH never tried to change this! Some physicians also seem like they never had this lesson "Pharmacology" in their Schools!

I know that the situation will change in the near future. The National Health Plan if finally applied there will be no excuses! But untill then...

[silnarnin]

In Portugal is the same thing. We all sell POM over the counter, everyone knows, but as long as we don't mention it, nothing happens. People even go with the pharmacy receipt to the doctor, for him to prescribe what they already had, and that way they get part of their money back.

[karen_phil_R.Ph.]

hi everyone am a R.Ph. from the Philippines. can you please help me. what are the requirements or qualifications in taking the RPSGB if want to become a registered pharmacist in UK? i think it's the same with the FPGEE if its in the U.S.. thanks..i really need your help...Thanks again..happy to hear from you guys..

[Pharmanaut]

Rpsgb.org: Registration from other countries

Start here.

[Jeff]

Karen,
What on earth is going on at your local prison?

"Thriller" (original upload)

Jeff

[karen_phil_R.Ph.]

hi pharmanuat..
thanks for the link you have shared..