Pharmacy Opportunities Overseas...

[pekau7]

I'm trying to see if I can get a big picture with the pharmacy businesses around the world. I'm wondering if there are competitive interests for foreign pharmacists in Asian markets now, and perhaps in the future. I think the market's future shifting to Asia now, and I'm wondering if Canadian/US pharmacists ranging from conversational to fluent Asian languages like Korean or Chinese, are highly desired. Perhaps not as actively sought-after like ESL teachers, but the point stands.

 

Another thing that keeps on popping up is the reality of job opportunities in Canada. The trend is that your biggest challenge is to get into pharm school and getting yourself licensed, and the job-searching would be relatively easy. I'm hearing from some pharmacists that we're now producing a lot of pharmacist students with increasing number of pharm school (ex. University of Waterloo) and so the jobs would be more competitive for employees and hence, less salary and benefits. I'm sure there is some truth to this as we faced a staggering recession, but I'm just wondering if this obstacle can be easily overcome with effort or the reality is much grimmer and it's better off for potential students to seek different fields. I don't want to overly emphasize money and benefits as they are other factors that play into career-planning, but I'd like to know what I should be expecting after 7-8 years of schooling.

 

I'd like to hear your thoughts about these issues I'm pondering on, if you have anything to share.

[CharmingHedgehog]

I'm trying to see if I can get a big picture with the pharmacy businesses around the world. I'm wondering if there are competitive interests for foreign pharmacists in Asian markets now, and perhaps in the future. I think the market's future shifting to Asia now, and I'm wondering if Canadian/US pharmacists ranging from conversational to fluent Asian languages like Korean or Chinese, are highly desired. Perhaps not as actively sought-after like ESL teachers, but the point stands.

 

Another thing that keeps on popping up is the reality of job opportunities in Canada. The trend is that your biggest challenge is to get into pharm school and getting yourself licensed, and the job-searching would be relatively easy. I'm hearing from some pharmacists that we're now producing a lot of pharmacist students with increasing number of pharm school (ex. University of Waterloo) and so the jobs would be more competitive for employees and hence, less salary and benefits. I'm sure there is some truth to this as we faced a staggering recession, but I'm just wondering if this obstacle can be easily overcome with effort or the reality is much grimmer and it's better off for potential students to seek different fields. I don't want to overly emphasize money and benefits as they are other factors that play into career-planning, but I'd like to know what I should be expecting after 7-8 years of schooling.

 

I'd like to hear your thoughts about these issues I'm pondering on, if you have anything to share.

 

My impression of Chinese pharmacists was that... lots of retired nurses/doctors can take on the role. There's not really any importance placed on having a "pharmacist". Also, medical Chinese/or whatever language, is not the same as conversational Chinese. My relative was trying to tell me what drugs they were taking, and I was like.... ?!?!?!?!?

Like, how would you even translate Ramipril?!

 

There's nothing wrong with being concerned with money. After going through schooling for so long, obviously you want to feed yourself pretty well =D

A new pharm grad can expect ~ 35 in internship. When you become a pharmacist, the larger the city you aer working in, the lower your pay. Toronto pharmacists may make 35-40/hr, you go to Brampton, or London, you increase your wage by $5 at least.

Relief work obviously is based on demand. Emergency relief makes boat loads of money. Relief on holidays (Christmas, Civic holiday, etc), will make a lot of money. Regular relief may not make as much. However, relief pharmacists will generally make more than staff pharmacists.

There is still a pharmacist shortage in Ontario. The shortage has always been in more remote/rural places that no one wants to go to. The pay was stupidly good before for those places, now they are less good because of the cuts.

Also, it will depend on which chain you are working for.