Luxembourg’s business sectorsThe pharmacist’s facets ☤

Pharmacist, biologist, chemist, medication seller, or even “pill monger”

Not just after a doctor’s appointment do we resort to the services of one of the country’s approximately 100 pharmacies. Even those who don’t need prescription medication, homeopathic or natural products, care products, vitamins, and nutritional supplements will occasionally turn to their trusted pharmacist. The following article shows the profession’s versatility.

The job of a pharmacist is a regulated career in the health sector, for which five or six years of study are required, depending on the country. Students in Luxembourg can opt for neighbouring countries and study in Brussels, Liège, Louvain-la-Neuve, Namur, or Mons, for example, but Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, and Great Britain also offer numerous options.

Not without a professional licence

After completing a degree, the “Direction de la Santé – Division de la Pharmacie et des Médicaments” is in charge of issuing permits for students to practice their job in Luxembourg and carry the professional title of “Pharmacist” (Pharmacien/Apdikter). In conjunction with the “Collége Médical” and the aforementioned division’s evaluation, the Ministry of Health issues or rejects the professional licence.

Finally, the pharmacist must decide where to practice their trade. Most of the approximately 450 pharmacists in the country work at a public pharmacy – a so-called “Offizin” – but hospitals, analysis laboratories for medical examinations, state institutions, as well as the pharmaceutical industry also offer interesting professional opportunities.

Since regulated practice and opening a pharmacy require considerable financial and time investments, many pharmacists start their career as pharmacy assistants and thereby as employees. However, this does not release them from the professional responsibility that every apothecary must bear within the framework of their career.

A pharmacist can actually face disciplinary, civil, and criminal charges if they make mistakes in their job due to a lack of knowledge. They are therefore also obligated to continually partake in further training programmes and expert conferences, which are regularly organised at the chamber of commerce in Luxembourg. Those who choose to become self-employed have the option of either taking over a state pharmacy or investing in a private licence.

About two thirds of Luxembourg’s self-employed pharmacists work in a state pharmacy. For their application to be successful, they must meet certain criteria and have practiced their profession for several years at the time of application. When purchasing a private pharmacy, these restrictions are not relevant. However, this endeavour requires much more significant financial means, and, in contrast to state pharmacies, there is no official list of private, unoccupied pharmacies.

A certain basic interest

What are the questions every school leaver considering a pharmacy degree should ask themselves? And which skills and interests should they demonstrate beforehand? In addition to Luxembourg’s language requirements of a certain level of German, French, and Luxembourgish, a basic interest in biology and chemistry is essential.

Even if a state pharmacist rarely needs to prepare medication and parapharmaceutical products themselves today, they must have excellent knowledge of their chemical and biological composition. They must know all of the medications’ ingredients and check the respective patient’s tolerability.

For consulting and sales activities, interpersonal skills are required such as friendliness, sociability, and diplomacy. Pharmacists should enjoy human interactions and show interest in customers’ health needs. Both at the hospital and in pharmacies, they closely interact with patients and doctors. Sound accounting knowledge as well as organisational skills and the ability to plan ahead are also needed: After all, a pharmacist is responsible for managing and constantly updating their medication stocks. Due to the third-party payment system, which is common in Luxembourg, they are also in frequent contact with the national insurance provider.

Knowledge of chemistry, physics, and biology

While a biopharmacist conducts analyses in medical laboratories for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and disease prevention, a pharmacist works in research and manufactures as well as examines medication for the pharmaceutical industry. Both require wide-ranging knowledge of chemistry, physics, and biology (particularly genetics, botany, and zoology) as well as a high degree of diligence and precision.

More Infos

www.pharmacie.lu

www.pharmaciens.lu

www.sante.lu