The Vanishing Druggist

Is pharmacy a dying trade? Last week the American Druggist, totting up the evidence, said gloomily: well, unless something happens--. About 14% of the nation's 75,000 practicing pharmacists are over 65. During the past four years, less than half the normal number of pharmacy students have graduated. Of the 10,000 licensed druggists in the armed forces, 2,000 will never return to civilian mortars and pestles. One trouble: the rise of the glittering emporium-type drugstores and the fact that pharmacists have to double ingloriously as sandwich cutters and alarm-clock salesmen.

Several uneasy pharmaceutical groups are working energetically on: a complete shake-up of pharmacy colleges; a revised, realistic curriculum and fresh faculty blood; a publicity program to boost respect for pharmacy and attract young druggists.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.