UG Pharmacy graduate speaks of a worrying injustice

Apr 04, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Please allow me some column space to speak on an issue of grave concern to myself and colleagues.
I am a recently graduated university student – batch 2015. My colleagues and I completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy. The programme is relatively new (only two graduated batches) as previously only an Associate Degree in Pharmacy was offered. The programme now spans four years and provisions are made for pharmacists holding the associate Degree to upgrade their qualification.
In previous years, subsequent to graduation, pharmacy graduates were required to apply for licensure and registration in the month of January. I stand to be corrected. Without said registration and license it is illegal to practice as a pharmacist in Guyana; one can be charged.
The issue here is that the Pharmacy Council of Guyana has refused to register and issue license to all newly graduated pharmacist. What is more frustrating is that no effort has been made to formally enlighten us. As a result, there are many versions as to why the refusal. The most prevalent being that the council requires the graduates to complete a period of internship before they can become licensed. This is something that the Pharmacy Council of Guyana is now trying to implement. Mr. Editor I dare to ask, what sort of backwardness is this? Internship after graduation, after taking the pharmacists oath? If this internship is not a part of my qualification to be a pharmacist but a criterion to be officially registered and licensed then all pharmacists should be held to this standard. Therefore make it mandatory for all pharmacists; upgrades and even those who are still operating with an Associate’s Degree.
One claim of the council is that this internship is to ensure a high standard of service from the new graduates. However, they are still issuing license to pharmacists who still hold only an Associate’s Degree even though it has been expressed that this qualification will soon be unrecognized.
Currently our University Degree is useless. For those of us who seek employment, we can only occupy subordinate positions such as pharmacy assistants and technicians, positions that can be gained with a secondary school qualification or even a three month course at the Ministry of Health. This is limiting our earning capacity. Four years at the University of Guyana to earn a meager $56,000 or there about. Is not the council aware that we have responsibilities and families? If there is anyone who wishes to reply and correct any of the above mentioned, they are welcomed, as any misconceptions can be faulted to the Pharmacy Council of Guyana and Guyana Pharmacy Association for failing to dispatch information.
Pharmacy graduate (name submitted)

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