Transforming Knowledge into Skill and Service

College of Advanced Health Science & Technology

Pharmaceutical Technology with Pharmacy Assistance

Course Description

The Pharmaceutical Technology with Pharmacy Assistance course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work in the pharmaceutical industry as pharmacy assistants. This program covers a wide range of topics, including the principles of drug formulation, the manufacturing process of pharmaceuticals, quality assurance, and patient care.

Topics covered in the course include:

  • Basic principles of pharmaceutical technology, including drug design and drug delivery systems.
  • Drug formulation, including the selection of ingredients, drug release mechanisms, and the role of excipients.
  • Good manufacturing practices (GMP) in the production of pharmaceuticals, including the development and implementation of standard operating procedures.
  • Quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry, including the evaluation of the safety, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceutical products.
  • Pharmaceutical calculations, including dosage calculations and compounding.
  • Pharmacology, including the mechanisms of action, side effects, and drug interactions of commonly used medications.
  • Patient care and medication management, including medication administration and documentation, prescription filling, and patient counselling.
  • Regulatory issues and legal aspects of pharmaceuticals, including drug approval and regulation by government agencies.

Through hands-on laboratory work and clinical rotations, students will gain practical experience in drug formulation, compounding, and medication administration. They will also develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and learn to work effectively as part of a healthcare team.

Upon completion of the course, students will be prepared to work as pharmacy assistants in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, retail pharmacies, and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. They will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to support pharmacists in the delivery of high-quality patient care and to contribute to the safe and effective use of medications.


The aim of the Pharmaceutical Technology programme is to produce technologists with a sound understanding of the biological action of drugs and chemicals, the way they work at the molecular, cellular and systems level and their use in medicines for the treatment of disease. It thus provides an ideal grounding for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or general biomedical research and for graduate entry to Medicine.  However, the transferable skills acquired, including data gathering, analysis and interpretation, presentation skills and team-work prepare you for undergraduate careers with a wide range of public and private sector employers.

Where can you work after the programme?

Our graduates are highly attractive to a variety of employers. Some of our graduates would be employed as Pharmacology Technologists in the Department of Pharmacology in Institutions offering Medicine, or work as research scientists in universities, hospitals or industrial laboratories where they design and carry out experiments to examine the usefulness of new drugs or new drug targets. Many Health Centers, public and private Hospitals, and Pharmacy shops also employ Pharmacology graduates from our College.

Some graduates may wish to start their own companies and open Pharmacology Shops. Many will study for higher degrees. Others will work in pharmaceutical companies as medical sales representatives or medical information officers who monitor scientific literature for publications relevant to the company’s research. Companies also employ pharmacology graduates as drug registration officers who submit research findings to the international registration authorities for approval before new medicines are released for general use, or as clinical research associates involved in the design and coordination of clinical trials of new drugs.

Studying pharmacology will also equip you with a wide range of transferable skills including data gathering, analysis and interpretation, presentation skills and teamwork, which will be relevant for further undergraduate careers with many public and private sector employers.

Attendance Policy

Our College requires students to attend classes.

Principles

  • Programs are delivered so as to model workplace requirements.
  • We recognize that registration in each course presumes a contractual agreement to the terms of the course as stated in the course outline and syllabus of the school.
  • The Institute believes that attendance is directly related to success in learning.

Procedure

  • The student will take responsibility for his/her own decisions related to his/her attendance.
  • The student will take responsibility to abide by the attendance expectations of his/her sponsoring agency.
  • A student who is absent from a class session for any reason will assume the responsibility to complete class work. The student will obtain information and materials presented in the class during his/her absence.
  • Attendance of all students will be recorded by the Instructor and submitted to the Registrar or designate. The record of sponsored students will be forwarded to the sponsoring agency if required.
  • At the instructor’s discretion, a warning letter may be given to the student prior to the student missing 10% of the required course time.
  • After a student misses 10% of the required course time, which may be prorated term by term, as stated in the course outline and syllabus, the student and the instructor will meet to prepare an attendance contract. Options, which may include withdrawal or dismissal, will be discussed in order to aid the student in his/her decision making. A meeting with Student Services may be recommended.

Prerequisites

  • A minimum of five (5) O’level credits in subjects such as English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
  • Must meet the minimum age requirement for admission into higher institutions in Nigeria (usually 18).
  • Must have completed their secondary school education and obtained a secondary school certificate or its equivalent.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in English, as it is the primary language of instruction.
  • Must pass the entrance examination or meet the minimum cut-off mark in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Nigeria. (Or any equivalent examination required for entry into Colleges of Health.)
  • Undergo a medical examination to ensure that they are physically and mentally fit to work in the healthcare field.

Learning Outcomes

  • Understanding of the principles of drug formulation and the manufacturing process of pharmaceuticals, including the selection of ingredients, drug release mechanisms, and the role of excipients.
  • Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the production of pharmaceuticals, including the development and implementation of standard operating procedures.
  • Ability to perform pharmaceutical calculations, including dosage calculations and compounding.
  • Familiarity with the pharmacology of commonly used medications, including their mechanisms of action, side effects, and drug interactions.
  • Understanding of quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry, including the evaluation of the safety, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceutical products.
  • Knowledge of patient care and medication management, including medication administration and documentation, prescription filling, and patient counselling.
  • Awareness of regulatory issues and legal aspects of pharmaceuticals, including drug approval and regulation by government agencies.
  • Development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work effectively as part of a healthcare team.

Graduates of the program will be prepared to work as pharmacy assistants in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, retail pharmacies, and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. They will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to support pharmacists in the delivery of high-quality patient care and contribute to the safe and effective use of medications. They will also have a strong foundation in regulatory compliance and ethical practice, and be prepared to adapt to the evolving demands of the pharmaceutical industry.

Additional Information

If you need additional information or have questions, you can contact our student helpdesk. All our contact information can be found on our Contact page.

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