Print version Recommend this page Press release
29/ 2012
Bonn, 25.07.2012
Greater leeway for employees at dispensing chemists
Training for commercial employees in the pharmaceutical sector modernised
The pharmaceutical industry offers a large number of interesting occupations, including the occupation of commercial employee in the pharmaceutical sector, the training regulations of which have now been updated by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB),working on behalf of the Federal Government and acting in conjunction with the experts of the social partners. The new occupational profile is more closely aligned to practice in order to lend even greater expression to the service character of the occupation. It particularly includes more competences in the field of commercial management and control, in marketing, in work organisation and in environmental protection. Another new feature is a greater emphasis on communication within a team and with customers. This includes providing competent advice on products normally sold at dispensing chemists and on a wide range of other products and services available without prescription. The updated training regulations enter into force on 1 August.
The new training regulations adapt the existing occupational profile to meet the increasing requirements for commercial and business management activities at dispensing chemists. Commercial employees in the pharmaceutical sector calculate the prices of medicines and of products and services normally available at dispensing chemists and manage invoicing procedures with various agencies covering healthcare costs. They work autonomously to process procurement and inventory management procedures and support the smooth running of a dispensing chemist operation in areas ranging from adapting the product range to cost accounting and extending to include the preparation of statistics for business management decisions.
Commercial employees in the pharmaceutical sector mainly work in dispensing chemists, at dispensing chemists at hospitals, in the pharmaceutical industry, in the wholesale trade within the pharmaceutical industry, for health insurance companies and for chemists' chambers and associations. 1,621 new training contracts were concluded in 2011. Of these, almost 96% were with women. The average training allowance based on collective wage agreements last year was €600 in both East and West Germany.
The training also opens up occupational advancement and career opportunities. Commercial employees in the pharmaceutical sector may, for example, complete branch-specific advanced training courses at the federal state dispensing chemists chambers, acquire a qualification as a technical pharmaceutical assistant or pursue continuing training leading to the qualification of certified senior commercial clerk. The vocational education and training also has connectivity with courses of higher education study in pharmacy or pharmaceutical technology.
The new training regulations, which replace the previous Ordinance of 1993, have been drawn up under the lead management of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training acting on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health and in conjunction with the experts appointed by the Confederation of German Associations of Pharmacists (ABDA), the German Association of the Liberal Professions (BFB), the dispensing chemist trade union (ADEXA) and the service sector trade union ver.di.
For further (German language) information, please visit the BIBB website at www.bibb.de/neue-berufe-2012. Picture material is available at www.bibb.de/pressefotos.
Contact partner at BIBB:
Dr. Christin Brings, e-Mail: brings@bibb.de
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