There are more than 60,000 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmaceutical scientists currently working in the United States. They are found in drug stores, supermarkets, hospitals, research laboratory facilities and teaching at universities. They are the backbone of our nation’s knowledge of medicines, their controlled distribution and their potential effects on the human body.

These dedicated professionals are on the front lines of medicine distribution and the ultimate defenders of the right to pharmaceutical safety. They work in a profession in which one mistake – a misread prescription, unclear instructions or the wrong prescription – can have fatal consequences. There’s no excuse for a bad day or a careless error.

Thus, pharmacists and their assistants are held to a high standard of excellence by their employers, government agencies, university degree programs and clinical professional standards, undergoing rigorous training and close monitoring by regulatory and professional boards.

Under Pressure: Big Business for Pharmacists

Pharmacists are under pressure to perform as a general business in many cases. Patient counts are zooming as the population ages, new pressures are added as the drugstore industry consolidates, and the competition for customers is fierce.