What skills does a specialist pharmacist need?

A specialist pharmacist needs 47 essential skills including microbiology-bacteriology, botany, pharmacy law, organic chemistry, pharmacology. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace specialist pharmacist jobs?

The AI disruption score for specialist pharmacist is 24/100 (low risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

HealthcareHealth professionalsISCO 2262

specialist pharmacist

Specialist pharmacists provide specialist services for companies in the pharmacy industry and in hospital pharmacies. The role of the specialist pharmacist varies throughout Europe, subject to national rules and training.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (47)

microbiology-bacteriologymicrobiology-bacteriologyMicrobiology-Bacteriology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.botanybotanyThe taxonomy or classification of plant life, phylogeny and evolution, anatomy and morphology, and physiology.pharmacy lawpharmacy lawThe legal and other requirements associated with the pursuit of pharmacy activities.organic chemistryorganic chemistryThe chemistry of compounds and substances containing carbon.pharmacologypharmacologyPharmacology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.physicsphysicsThe natural science involving the study of matter, motion, energy, force and related notions.pharmaceutical technologypharmaceutical technologyPharmaceutical technology is the branch of pharmaceutics which deals with the technological design, development, manufacture, and evaluation of drugs and medicinal products.pharmacognosypharmacognosyThe physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of medicines which have natural sources as an origin.cancer riskscancer risksThe risk factors related to cancer such as smoking, HIV, radiation, obesity, alcohol, environmental causes and diet.human anatomyhuman anatomyThe dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and ...pharmaceutical industrypharmaceutical industryThe main stakeholders, companies and procedures in the pharmaceutical industry and the laws and regulations that govern the patenting, testing, safety and marketing of drugs.pharmaceutical chemistrypharmaceutical chemistryThe chemical aspects of identification and synthetic alteration of chemical entities as they relate to therapeutic use. The way various chemicals affect biological systems and how they can be integrat...toxicologytoxicologyThe negative effects of chemicals on living organisms, their dose and exposure.inorganic chemistryinorganic chemistryThe chemistry of substances that do not contain hydrocarbon radicals.pharmacotherapypharmacotherapyThe application of medicinal drugs used to treat diseases compared to surgical therapy.respond to changing situations in health carerespond to changing situations in health careCope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.educate on the prevention of illnesseducate on the prevention of illnessOffer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and healt...inform policy makers on health-related challengesinform policy makers on health-related challengesProvide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.provide anti-cancer medical treatmentprovide anti-cancer medical treatmentDetermine the cancer treatment appropriate for the patient, considering chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted therapy such as immunotherapy.use e-health and mobile health technologiesuse e-health and mobile health technologiesUse mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.empathise with the healthcare userempathise with the healthcare userUnderstand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence...provide specialist pharmaceutical careprovide specialist pharmaceutical careProvide specialised personalised support for patients who administer their own medication.manage healthcare users' datamanage healthcare users' dataKeep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, wr...provide medication informationprovide medication informationProvide patients with information about their medication, possible side effects, and contra-indications.deal with emergency care situationsdeal with emergency care situationsAssess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.advise on poisoning incidentsadvise on poisoning incidentsAdvise patients or other medical staff on how to handle overdose and poisoning intake in the most efficient manner.provide health educationprovide health educationProvide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.provide pharmaceutical adviceprovide pharmaceutical adviceProvide information and advice on medicinal products such as the appropriate use, the adverse reactions and the interactions with other medications.communicate in healthcarecommunicate in healthcareCommunicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.apply person-centred careapply person-centred careTreat individuals as partners in planning, developing and assessing care, to make sure it is appropriate for their needs. Put them and their caregivers at the heart of all decisions.advise on healthcare users' informed consentadvise on healthcare users' informed consentEnsure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.listen activelylisten activelyGive attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of cus...adhere to organisational guidelinesadhere to organisational guidelinesAdhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.work in a multicultural environment in health carework in a multicultural environment in health careInteract, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.promote inclusionpromote inclusionPromote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive envi...interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.provide treatment strategies for challenges to human healthprovide treatment strategies for challenges to human healthIdentify possible treatment protocols for the challenges to human health within a given community in cases such as infectious diseases of high consequences at the global level.provide specialist pharmaceutical adviceprovide specialist pharmaceutical adviceProvide specialist information and advice on medicinal products such as the appropriate use, the adverse reactions and the interactions with other medications.ensure safety of healthcare usersensure safety of healthcare usersMake sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing condit...apply organisational techniquesapply organisational techniquesEmploy a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and s...review patient's medical datareview patient's medical dataAssess and review relevant medical data of patients such as X-rays, medical history and laboratory reports.develop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipdevelop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipDevelop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.apply context specific clinical competencesapply context specific clinical competencesApply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within ...work in multidisciplinary health teamswork in multidisciplinary health teamsParticipate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.accept own accountabilityaccept own accountabilityAccept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.

Optional (10)

homeopathyhomeopathyThe alternative medicine whereby pills or liquid mixtures containing only a little of an active ingredient (usually a plant or mineral) can treat a disease.medical devicesmedical devicesEquipment and devices used in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of medical issues. Medical devices cover a wide range of products, ranging from syringes and protheses to MRI machinery and heari...improve safety of medicinesimprove safety of medicinesImprove the efficacy and safety of medication by promoting evidence-based medicine, development of guidelines and care protocols.perform diagnostic testing for allergiesperform diagnostic testing for allergiesPerform diagnostic testing for allergies to drugs, vaccines, or other substances used in medicinal treatment.prescribe medicationprescribe medicationPrescribe medications, when indicated, for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to the client`s needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice, national and practice protocols and within scope...conduct health related researchconduct health related researchConduct research in health related topics and communicate findings orally, through public presentations or by writing reports and other publications.manage adverse reactions to drugsmanage adverse reactions to drugsAnalyse and manage adverse reactions to drugs such as general and local anaesthetics and antibiotics, describing the principles of drug challenge and desensitisation to the allergic patient and provid...use foreign languages for health-related researchuse foreign languages for health-related researchUse foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.use foreign languages in patient careuse foreign languages in patient careCommunicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.maintain medical devicesmaintain medical devicesEnsure all medical devices and appliances are properly stored and taken care of so they maintain their functionality and appearance.