IMO, they should open up more state/city funded pharmacy schools. Lower tuition rates, it will be hard for the private schools to compete and hopefully the private schools get closed down.
I agree with you, but the problem is that job creation within the profession cannot keep pace with the speed that the schools are cranking out graduates. Most of these new grads are going to flock to retail due to the 6-figure salary and the illusion of jobs within the retail sector. I say illusion b/c retail, as it is practiced now, is basically a "burn & churn" body factory = extremely high turnover rate. Jobs that have high turnover rates usually have the worst working conditions (I don't care how one spins it, standing on your feet for 12-13+ hours with no lunch break is inhumane). As more schools open, conditions in the retail sector are going to deteriorate rapidly (if you think things are bad now.......just wait) Hospitals cannot possibly absorb the spillover from retail, as state budgets are getting slashed and many hospitals cannot simply afford to hire pharmacists/residents. Also, there are not enough residencies/fellowships to accommodate everyone.
The field of pharmacy backed itself into a corner and has essentially created a "bubble" for itself. The first major mistake pharmacy did was try to follow the physician model of education (the doctoral degree, clinical residencies, fellowships). Ok, that's well and good but big problem is that pharmacists cannot diagnose, prescribe and administer (only in 1-2 settings). Heck, we don't even have mid-level status. Pharmacy should have just stick with the bachelors degree.
Second problem pharmacy made - the retail giants worked in collusion with state boards of pharmacy and academia to build schools in a hurried frenzy in order to correct the shortage. Ok, there was a shortage of pharmacists. I understand maybe building 10-15 schools, nationwide, over a 20 year time period. That might make supply/demand equal. But dang nammit, 15+ schools in less than 6 years?! That's greed at its finest.
3rd problem - the schools and retail giants overestimated themselves. They naively suspected most pharmacists over the age of 50 would mass retire by now. What they didn't foresee happening was the stock market crash of 2008. Many pharmacists saw their retirement either shredded or destroyed. Now these same pharmacists cannot hope to retire anytime soon.
4th problem - emerging technologies. That's going to su<k.
5th - technicians assuming more responsibilities. See Problem #4.
It doesn't matter if SUNY Binghamton would be cheaper than LIU. The damage is already done. Those that are going to survive this catastrophe will have no choice but to adapt and acquire a new set of skills that can take them beyond pharmacy and/or just leave pharmacy altogether. But for those that are going to continue the traditional path of pharmacy (dispensing/compounding/counselling) are going to be in for a rude awakening.
This is just my opinion, feel free to disagree.
