# \[e-drug\] Training Pharmacist's Assistants/Technicians (cont) **URL:** https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-training-pharmacists-assistants-technicians-cont/13901 **Category:** e-drug **Created:** [March 19, 2002, 4:40am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-training-pharmacists-assistants-technicians-cont/13901 "2002-03-19T04:40:46Z") **Posts on this page:** 1 **Page:** 1
### Author: ![jwfvmil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@jwfvmil](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/jwfvmil) #### Post date: [March 19, 2002, 4:40am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-training-pharmacists-assistants-technicians-cont/13901/1 "2002-03-19T04:40:46Z")
E-drug: Training Pharmacist's Assistants/Technicians (cont) --------------------------------------------- As a response to the question of Dr. Ojoo: As far as I can see the competencies of pharmacy assistants show a large diversity over the world. In my country, pharmacy assistants (we call then assistant pharmacists), may dispense medication even without a pharmacist being on the premises. However, the pharmacist is still responsible. Such assistants have had 3 year additional training after high school. Training concentrates on drug knowledge. knowledge on compounding and communication skills. One year of the training is in practice. The must also follow a program of continuing education. In most Skandinavian countries you can find pharmacists without an academic training. Such pharmacists are more or less the equivalent to the Dutch assistant-pharmacists. In Denmark the assistants are called (if I remember well) pharmaconomists. I also have noted that if support personnel in a pharmacy is called a 'technician', there has usually not been much education and as a result their competencies are low.   Foppe van Mil, PhD, Pharm D. Pharmacy practice consultant Margrietlaan 1, NL 9471 CT Zuidlaren, The Netherlands Tel: +31 50 4094333. Fax +31 50 4090732.   Email: jwfvmil@wxs.nl [It is clear we must be careful with terminology and definitions. For example, in Australia, pharmacy technicians undergo a comprehensive course of training: see www.shpa.org.au. Eritrean technicians have different but specific technical training and responsibilities. It could be interesting to know the range and responsibilities of different sorts of 'pharmacy assistants' in different places. BS] -- To send a message to E-Drug, write to: e-drug@usa.healthnet.org To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@usa.healthnet.org in the body of the message type: subscribe e-drug OR unsubscribe e-drug To contact a person, send a message to: e-drug-help@usa.healthnet.org Information and archives: [http://www.healthnet.org/programs/edrug.html](http://www.healthnet.org/programs/edrug.html)