Home > Professionals > Pharmacists > A veterinary pharmacist’s view

A veterinary pharmacist’s view

Andrew Cairns is managing director and pharmacist at Murray Farmcare in Dumfries, Scotland. His core role is the supply of healthcare and medicines to local livestock farmers for beef and dairy cattle, sheep and pigs. In addition, Murray Farmcare also supplies equine and pet medicine as well as nutritional products.

A complex and specialist role

The role of veterinary pharmacists is diverse and differs from that of pharmacists treating people, as Andrew points out: 'Our role is complex simply because of the volumes in which we deal,' he says. 'Instead of a single patient, we treat entire herds of livestock. Instead of a stockroom we have warehouses and issue medicines in litres. We may issue liquids, powders, boluses, pour-on medicines, trace element products, and often injectable treatments.'

Andrew adds: 'There is a massive emphasis on getting things right, as what we do can have a direct effect on the foodchain. For this reason, specialist training is required to perform this role.'

Raising awareness

Andrew hopes that the GPhC will expand the core curriculum to include more about livestock and pets. 'As well as providing treatments, veterinary pharmacists must be knowledgeable about disease management, particularly when it comes to zoonoses — diseases that can be passed from animals to humans,' he says. 'Community pharmacists, are well-placed to educate the public about the potential diseases that dogs or cats can pass onto children, but first they need to learn this information.'

Andrew believes that the introduction of mandatory CPD will be useful in demonstrating that everyone in the profession keeps up-to-date with the latest training.

Setting a clear standards framework

Andrew believes that setting a clear framework of standards is important: 'The law and the interpretation of the law is constantly changing so it can be very hard to keep up. A clear set of standards should increase pharmacists' understanding of what's required. For example, those selling veterinary medicines need to understand that they are not just working under the Medicines Act but also to another specialist set of veterinary regulations.'

Providing guidance

Andrew hopes that the GPhC will focus on being facilitative and educational rather than heavily regulatory. 'I think the organisation will be a lot more effective this way,' he says. 'Educating the industry about the need to maintain education and standards can be done within a positive culture of consultation and guidance.'