Assistant Chemist Responsibilities

With a detailed description of the assistant chemist responsibilities, you get to know what these individuals do at healthcare clinics, chemist shops, retail drug pharmacies, drugstore chains and pharmaceutical industries. Assistant chemists are also known as pharmacy assistants or pharmacy aides. Though the job title may differ, the designation remains the same and thus the job responsibilities are also similar for these individuals.

Pharmacy assistants or assistant chemists are employed to perform various administrative tasks. They work under the supervision of pharmacist or a pharmacy technician. In a healthcare clinic, these assistants are assigned with packing of medicines, antiseptics, and other inventory. They also maintain paperwork including patient insurance forms and admission records. They answer telephone calls and redirect the calls to the concerned patient or healthcare specialist.

Assistant chemists working in a chemist shop retrieve and pack medicines, prepare invoice, receive and arrange new stock, and dispose expired or damaged medicines.

On the other hand, an assistant chemist in a pharmaceutical industry has to mix ingredients, put it in machines, and pack the medicines.

Assistant chemist responsibilities are important for any of the organization stated above because these individuals help the chemists or pharmacists in their routine activities.

Key Responsibilities of Assistant Chemist

As an assistant chemist, a person performs the following duties:

• Receives the prescriptions from the customers and checks if the information is correct and the prescription is genuine. He then provides the necessary medication in right quantity.
• An assistant chemist serves as a receptionist in healthcare facilities. He answers telephone calls, fills patient insurance forms, admission forms, discharge forms and invoices. He also delivers necessary medications to the patient room in a healthcare facility.
• Assistant chemist plays the role of a cashier and collects payments from customers and prepares and provides receipts.
• He arranges the new stock in a chemist shop and also disposes off the stock that has been damaged or expired.
• He answers telephone calls and provides information about the availability of requested medicines.
• Label the new stock and store it according to the storage requirements to enhance shelf life.
• Obtain signatures of the customers purchasing medicines over the counter.
• Maintain cleanliness in the pharmacy and learn about the new medications.
• Perform all other activities as assigned in the course of job.

Skills of an Assistant Chemist

Employers prefer individuals with knowledge of basic computer applications and those skilled in communication and customer service. Familiarity with medical insurance documentation and billing is equally important for assistant chemists. An eye for detail and an inherent curiosity to learn about new medicines and products will help you to work more efficiently in this position. Assistant chemists need to be physically fit as they have to lift heavy boxes of stocks and arrange them on a regular basis.

Becoming an Assistant Chemist

A minimum of high school diploma or an associate degree in any field will work if you want to work in this position. Even without work experience, you can get this job as you will get trained on the job itself.

Career Scope for Assistant Chemist

Assistant chemist is an entry level job. You can learn many skills on the job and can also opt for a course to become a pharmacy technician in the future. Assistant chemists are an asset for any drugstore as they decrease the workload of the chemist and they will be in demand in future owing to an increase in the number of healthcare clinics and drugstores.

Assistant chemist responsibilities closely resemble the responsibilities of pharmacy technicians. These professionals are necessary for any chemist shop or a healthcare facility.