The Egyptian pharmacists' union, led by Dr. Mohamed El-Sheikh, is advocating for the creation of new job opportunities in African countries to address the oversaturation of the local market. With approximately 370,000 pharmacists in Egypt, compared to around 67,000 pharmacies, the union has been warning of the need to reduce the number of students accepted into pharmacy colleges. This issue has become increasingly pressing, with many pharmacists struggling to find employment.
Dr. El-Sheikh emphasized the importance of improving the economic situation of general pharmacies, which are often the primary source of healthcare in popular areas and villages. He noted that pharmacists provide direct services to patients and offer medication counseling. However, the sector faces significant challenges, including the erosion of capital, high operating costs, and the sale of medications at varying prices.
The rise of online pharmacies has further complicated the situation, with many operating outside of the legal framework. This has raised concerns about the potential for counterfeit or substandard medications to enter the market. Dr. El-Sheikh stressed the need for regulatory measures to address this issue and ensure the quality of medications.
To address the oversaturation of the local market, Dr. El-Sheikh suggested that pharmacists should be encouraged to work in other fields, such as precision medicine, digital medicine, and genomics. He also emphasized the importance of updating pharmacy curricula to reflect the latest scientific developments and meet the needs of the future job market.
Clinical pharmacy services have been introduced in Egypt, but their implementation has been limited. Dr. El-Sheikh noted that some hospitals are not adequately equipped to support clinical pharmacy services, and there is resistance from some doctors to pharmacists taking on more responsibilities. However, he believes that clinical pharmacists can play a vital role in optimizing medication use and reducing healthcare costs.
Dr. El-Sheikh has called for the Egyptian government to facilitate the export of pharmacists to other African countries, where there is a high demand for healthcare professionals. He cited examples of countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, which have expressed interest in recruiting Egyptian pharmacists.
The pharmacists' union is seeking to engage with the government and other stakeholders to address the challenges facing the profession. Dr. El-Sheikh emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to support pharmacists and ensure that they can contribute to the healthcare system in a meaningful way.
Key points
- Egyptian pharmacists are seeking new job opportunities in African countries to address the oversaturation of the local market.
- The pharmacists' union is advocating for regulatory measures to address the rise of online pharmacies and ensure the quality of medications.
- Clinical pharmacy services have the potential to optimize medication use and reduce healthcare costs in Egypt.
