The pharmacist as an administrator

Administration and management are facets of the pharmacy profession that often disregarded, or at least relegated to a footnote at the end of minor credits, within the context of pharmacy undergraduate courses. They are, however, vital skills within our multiple-disciplinary mindset, especially in the context of the Maltese Islands.

One must consider that amongst most pharmacists that enter the field of community practice, most are required to carry out the duties of professional pharmacist and shop manager. These duties require as a bare minimum a working knowledge of administrative functions and procedures.

This point of argument is also relevant outside the area of community practice, as in the running a state owned pharmacy, or the management of the budget and expenditure of a pharmaceutical distributor. Such duties still impose the supposition of the knowledge of money and people management. Even though one might argue that management and administrative duties do not fall within the remit of a pharmacist's core responsibilities, one would be short-sighted and very blinkered not to recognize the possibilities, both from a career-ameliorating aspect, and also from that of personal satisfaction, that could be realized with the addition of management and administrative skills to the pharmacist's already broad knowledge base.

One might even argue for a greater focus at undergraduate level on such matters, and the possibility of a post-graduate specialization in healthcare administration, possibly in co-operation with the faculty of management and accountancy. Integrating a high level of functionality and versatility into the pharmacist's repertoire of skills will set up future graduates on a better footing for professional and personal success in the long haul.

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