The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7205 p5
6 July 2002

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Anglia pharmacy school opens in 2003

A new pharmacy degree starts at the University of East Anglia (PJ, 5 May, 2001, p608) next year . The course is expected to help address the shortage of pharmacists in the east of England, which is the part of the United Kingdom with the highest vacancy rate for pharmacists.

There has been a National Health Service academic pharmacy practice unit (APPU) based at the UEA since 1994. Now the university expects to welcome its first 72 undergraduates to a four-year master of pharmacy degree in September 2003.

The APPU's director and regional specialist in pharmaceutical quality assurance, Bob Shaw, said he was delighted at the university's expansion into the field.

"There is a national shortage of graduate pharmacists, which is especially acute in the eastern region, but there is currently no school of pharmacy here. This is a very welcome move," he said.

The UEA's dean of chemistry and pharmacy, Professor Andrew Thomson said: "Pharmacy is a science-based subject which sits well alongside chemistry. The development of this new degree course is a natural progression for UEA, which enjoys a strong reputation in both science and health disciplines. This is particularly timely with the opening of our new joint venture school of medicine."

"We have met representatives of the pharmacy community from all over the eastern region, and they have expressed great enthusiasm for the plans," said Professor Thomson.

"We will be working closely with hospital and retail pharmacists who will come in as teacher-practitioners to share professional skills with the students."