Clinical Pharmacy Education in China

Abstract

Pharmacy education in China focuses on pharmaceutical sciences, with the bachelor of science (BS) of pharmacy as the entry-level degree. Pharmacy practice curricula in these programs are centered on compounding, dispensing, pharmacy administration, and laboratory experiences, which are the traditional responsibilities for pharmacists. Additional graduate-level training is available at the master of science (MS) and the doctor of philosophy (PhD) levels, most of which concentrate on drug discovery and drug development research. Presently, the emphasis in practice is beginning to shift to clinical pharmacy. With this change, additional degree offerings are being developed to meet the growing demand for clinical pharmacists. There is also interest in developing more clinical skills in practicing pharmacists through additional non-degree training. The Ministry of Education is considering a proposal for an entry-level professional degree of master and/or doctor in clinical pharmacy similar to the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree in the United States.

A Comparison of Patient-Centered Care in Pharmacy Curricula in the United States and Europe

“…7 Some countries have adapted their curricula to face the changes in the pharmacy profession as it moves toward clinical and patient care. 8,9 Other countries have focused efforts on improving areas of pharmacy curricula, such as clinical pharmacy [10][11][12] and the social and behavioral sciences. [13][14][15][16] In the United States, the change in pharmaceutical education was marked by the creation of the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) as the sole degree required to enter practice.…”

The Catch-22 of Pharmacy Practice in Pakistan’s Pharmacy Education

“…This is similar to the set up in the United States [7]. However, Pakistan has found itself in difficulties and, in the context of promoting quality education in Pakistan, this trend of encroachment is not helpful as it will also lead to inadequate teaching of the specialized subjects to students with knowledge not being transferred as it should be [8].…”

Development and Current Status of Clinical Pharmacy Education in China

“…1 In the past two decades, however, well trained pharmacists with clinical knowledge and skills have become urgently needed to meet the increasing demand for high-quality medical care. According to the Chinese Ministry of Health's Annual Health Statistics in 2011, there were 364,000 hospital pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in mainland China, serving 1.28 billion people, 21,979 hospitals and 918,003 primary medical institutions.…”