A pharmacy worker has dismissed the suggestion that he and his peers are "second rate" healthcare professionals.

According to Adnan Khan, a pharmacist and PhD student, pharmacy workers are the equal of specialists such as dentists and doctors.

Therefore, he believes that pharmacy students should feel more enthusiastic about the career path they have chosen.

Speaking to Chemist + Druggist, Mr Khan said this sentiment could be fuelled if universities and other training providers promote the range of jobs a pharmacy student could pursue.

"The roles which pharmacists can take up are numerous, yet to the average pharmacy graduate remain unknown," he commented.

Mr Khan added that this would lead to more people developing all-round skills that can be applied in and transferred between many different types of pharmacy jobs.

This comes after the National Pharmacy Association called on the government to ensure that community pharmacists are fully involved in proposed commissioning reforms.

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