6 Pharmacy and Other Health Professions

   The percentage of income due to prescriptions in the same pharmacies. While these data are from a relatively small sample, they are in general agreement with reports for the same period published in Drug Topics and in the American Druggist.

  This marked incrase in income from prescriptions has been due largely to incrase in the number of prescriptions and in the price charged for certain types of prescriptions in pratically all pharmacies and drugstores. There also has been a small but steady increase in the number of exlusive prescriptions pharmacies, and this trend continues, especially in thewestern states. In california about one fifth of the lisenes granted to newly opned pharmacies (about one day in California in 1957) were to pharmacies inwich the major attention is given to proferssional rather than to mercantile activites. These include exslusive prescription pharmacies, semiprofessional pharmacies and hospital pharmacies. This trend is less marked in the east, the south and the midwest but is noticable in all of these areas also. Even more noticeable throughout the country is the increased attentions being given in nearly all pharmacies to professional departments. Remodeling and enlargement are widespread today in prescription departements and in such closely related departments as sikroom supplise, nutritional supplements and baby needs.

SPESIALIZED FIELDS OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRACTICE

 Several thousand american pharmacists practice in some field other than 4,000 of these pharmacutical where practice is closeley akin to that in exlusive prescription pharmacies. However, in addition, the hospital pharmacist usually does more small-scale manufacturing and may be called upon more frequently to prepare special formulas requering exasting compounding technics. He also follows somewhat different administrative procedures, is called upon to develop and revise the hospital formulary, and instructs medical intrern and nurses concerning new drug. Opportunities are frequent for collaburation with internist and other medical spesialist in the development of special medicinal preparations and the hospital personnel as the principal counsultant on drug.

  About 1,000 pharmacist are employed by the large manufacturers in their laboratories of offices for a wide variety of professional services. Many of these pharmacists hold administrative or executive positions, and many fill responsible posts in research and in development of new products. One of our largest manufacturers has liseted over 60 positions, including the precidency of the company, currently held by licensed pharmacists (see p.160). the principal dristibuting agencies for drugs, the wholesalers, employ a smaller number of pharmacists than do the manufacturers. However, this comercial and essential part of pharmacy (commonly called the “wholesale drug business”) makes use of some pharmacists, largely in administative and executive positions.

  A few thousand pharmacists are employed ase traveling representatives of drug manufacturers or other concerns egageded  in making or distributing drug or related products. Many of these men are medical service representatives, sometimes called detail men. Their medical service is rendered to parmacists. Periodically, the representative calls on the physicans and the pharmacists in his territoryto promote items produced by hi company and to introduce new products. The medical service representative may serve as salesman also, but his principal duty is personalized promotion.