Generic drugs dropping medication prices, increasing demand for pharmacy techs

The increased use of generic drugs, which are cheaper than brand name prescriptions, is increasing the overall use of prescription drugs, which in turn in increasing the demand for professionally trained pharmacy technicians across the country.

Pharmacies and health care facilities all across the country are experiencing a shortage of professionally trained pharmacy technicians, which makes now the perfect time to begin a new career as a pharmacy technician by completing the training program at Ayers Career College.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Senior Vice President Matthew Bennett said last month that access to genetic drugs was increasing medication use across America, which is leading to the high demand for pharmacy technicians.

“(The) report by the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) documents one of the many benefits achieved by new medicines developed by biopharmaceutical research companies,” Bennett said in a released statement. “Cost savings attributable to generic drugs represent one stage of the prescription drug lifecycle. Such savings are possible because innovator biopharmaceutical research companies – the most research-intensive sector in the U.S. economy – produce medical advances through pioneering scientific work and long-term, expensive investments. Over time, these innovative new medicines lead to generic copies that patients use at low cost for many years. Without the development of new medicines by innovator companies, there would be neither the new medicines essential to progress against diseases nor generic copies.”

Bennett also said he expects the support for the development of new medicines to continue and that incentives would play an important part in renewing the cycle of progress against disease and affordability.

“Cost trends for prescription medicines show spending on medicines has declined to historically low levels,” Bennett added. “According to IMS Health, prescription drug spending grew 0.5 percent in 2011 and is projected to grow by 0 – 3 percent annually through 2015.

“Importantly, despite their small share of health costs – relative to other health services – medicines are yielding major health advances. For instance, prescription medicines have played a key role in the dramatic declines in death rates resulting from cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS in recent years. Our companies’ continued commitment to innovation is the driving force behind such medical progress.”

The increased affordability of medication is increasing prescription drug use in America and it is leading to higher demands for professionally trained pharmacy technicians.

Ayers Career College offers one of the nation’s great Pharmacy Technician training programs where students learn a wide variety of skills, including how to provide valuable technical and clerical support to pharmacists, mixing and re-packaging medication, and delivering drugs to patients. Students are also trained to maintain computer files dealing with patients and their medications.

If you are someone who wants to work in the healthcare industry, particularly in the field of pharmaceuticals, and you place a high value on honesty and integrity, then this could be the career field for you. However, you don’t have to complete several years of training to become a Pharmacy Technician because the Ayers Career College’s Pharmacy Technician training program provides students with a timely path to this career field. Students receive professional training to become a Pharmacy Technician and are put in a position to secure some of the best jobs in this industry. The demand for Pharmacy Technicians has never been higher and employers are looking for technicians that have professional training and experience, as well as those possessing strong character.