Pharmacy Technician Education, Salary, and Job Opportunities in Nigeria

 

By offering the pharmacists helpful assistance, pharmacy technicians contribute to the smooth operation of pharmacies. In the early years of pharmacy practice in Nigeria, pharmacy technicians were beneficial because there were more technicians than licensed pharmacists.

A pharmacy technician is a member of the medical staff who collaborates with a pharmacist to help with compounding, medicine distribution, patient care, inventory management, and other tasks.

Education for Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria

The candidate must earn their Senior Secondary School Certificate or West African School Certificate after completing secondary school. He needs to get at least five credits, including math and English.

To obtain a Pharmacy Technician Certificate from PCN, the Pharmacy Technician must successfully finish a three-year program at a School of Health Technology. Check out this article on Nigerian pharmacy technician training programs.

A pharmacy technician may register for NYSC.

Graduates of Nigerian higher institutions who have been given approval can participate in the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) for one year. Diploma degrees are awarded for programs like pharmacy technician, health assistant, and medical imaging technician.

Given that they are not admitted through JAMB, diploma degrees are not recognized by NYSC (Joint Admission and Matriculation Board). Only those with HNDs (Higher National Diplomas) are qualified.

Any Nigerian pharmacy technician who wishes to participate in the NYSC program must pursue a B.Sc. or HND degree through JAMB admission or direct entry. In Nigeria, a pharmacy technician can enroll in a direct entry program to study pharmacy.

Careers as a pharmacy technician in Nigeria

In Nigeria, a pharmacy technician may work in a variety of medical facilities. They are employed by numerous private, public, and state hospitals. Some of them are employed by neighborhood pharmacies, pharmaceutical businesses, pharmacy organizations, military medical institutions, prisons, and primary healthcare facilities.

A pharmacy technician in Nigeria may potentially pursue a career in academia. They are capable of teaching and lecturing.

Pharmacy technicians' salaries

Pay for pharmacy technicians in Nigeriapharmacy assistant In most state and federal government hospitals and health facilities in Nigeria, salaries begin at CONHESS 6. (N623,056.00 – N942,219.00 per annum). Consolidated Health Salary Structure, or CONHESS, is the system used in Nigeria to grade the salaries of allied health professionals like pharmacists, nurses, radiographers, and medical laboratory scientists.

Click to Apply : Enugu State College of Health Technology, Oji River: 2023/2024 online Admission Application now open

Nigerian pharmacy technicians' typical salaries

The average pay for pharmacy technicians in Nigeria is shown in statistics from the National Salaries, Income and Wage Commission based on data gathered throughout the nation. It was divided into groups based on the country's regions and service years.

Data from NSIWC

Pharmacy technicians in the UK start out at band 4 of the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scale. That equals a gross hourly wage of £11.53, a net hourly wage of £9.06, and a yearly wage of £22,548.76.

A pharmacy technician can make about $16 per hour in the US, whereas the same wage in Canada is about $25.

Pharmacy assistants and technicians have different responsibilities.

Basically, they perform the same tasks. An assistant at the pharmacy assists the pharmacist with compounding medications, serving prescriptions, and interacting with patients. Additionally, they process patient data and invoices and compute dose.

A pharmacy technician, however, performs certain additional duties. In most nations, the occupation is largely regulated and requires a license. They can really prepare the medications and take prescriptions. Before dispensing, the pharmacist will now perform one last review of the prescription.

There is no specific body that oversees the licensure of pharmacy technicians in the United States. The way pharmacy technicians are granted licensure is governed by each state's pharmacy board. Two pharmacy technician certification exams—offered by the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) and the National Healthcareer Association—have received accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

In order to work, pharmacy technicians in the UK are need to be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Students are required to complete the Pharmacy Technician program within four years after entrance, according to the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP).

Pharmacy technicians in some nations, including Saudi Arabia and Columbia, are known as Pharmacy Regency Technologists.

What a pharmacy technician does

Provide pharmaceutical care services by preparing and compounding medications for patients.

Oversee other less experienced employees in pharmacy settings.

Arranges for the distribution of the drug.

Dispense medication under a pharmacist's guidance.

Organize, receive, and handle inventory

Communicate clearly with the patient and other healthcare providers

Receives both written and oral prescriptions, and before dispensing, confers with the pharmacist.