The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7163 p293-296
1 September 2001

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  Statutory fees
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Pharmacy education (2 letters)

Longer academic course is the problem

From Mr K. Khan

It saddens me to hear about the recruitment crisis that has affected our schools of pharmacies (PJ, 25 August, p251). Contrary to what the academic institutes have said about the decline in the number of students studying science A-levels being the preliminary cause of this crisis, I believe the underlying problem lies in that of the recent change of the pharmacy degree from a three-year bachelor’s degree course to a four-year master’s course.

The general consensus among A-level students is why should they study a four-year course, when other health care courses such as optometry may be completed in a shorter time with greater financial benefits at the end.

It is time for the academic institutions to allow only the most able students to enter the profession and for our governing body to recognise, reward and promote the skills of the newly qualified students, if pharmacy is once again to be known as a course that attracts the most able of students, as is the case with medicine, dentistry and optometry.

Khorrum Khan
Preregistration trainee
Rugby, Warwickshire

High entry standards maintained

From Professor John Lloyd, FRPharmS, and Dr Paul Carter, MRPharmS

A news item in The Pharmaceutical Journal of 25 August (p252) reports that Sunderland University has admitted a pharmacy technician to study on the MPharm course from an “unusual non-A-level route”.

We wish to point out that the student in question presented with an A-level chemistry pass, grade A, as well as a Business and Technician Education Council certificate in pharmaceutical science with distinctions in nine components and merit in one. Also that the student applied through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service last autumn, and was not admitted at clearing. We had offered her a place if she obtained a B in chemistry, a performance that she has surpassed. Our entry standards remain high this year.

John Lloyd
Professor and Head of Pharmacy

Paul Carter
MPharm Admissions Tutor
University of Sunderland

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