The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7322 p597
23 October 2004

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· Concordance
· Medicines distribution
· Pharmacy education
· Management training
· Medicines stability
· New contract
· Technicians
· Prescription charge
· Personal control
· Private dispensing
· Dispensing
· Health services
· Drug delivery
· The Society
· The Journal

Letters to the Editor

Pharmacy education

Variety is good for the profession

From Mr M. G. Aiken, MRPharmS

John Smart raises several interesting points in his letter (PJ, 9 October, p513). I taught pharmacy undergraduates for over 40 years at Brighton and was admissions tutor from 1975 to 2004. The number of graduates will significantly increase in the next few years taking account of the increased intakes and the new schools of pharmacy. A major problem for the profession is likely to be a lack of preregistration places. This may deter some students from entering the profession. Perhaps there is a role for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to ensure more preregistration places are created.

Education in general is in a state of turmoil. The proposed abolition of A-level and GCSE qualifications and the selection of undergraduates in the short period after the results of their qualifying examinations are known, are both likely to cause difficulties in selecting pharmacy students.

Many schools of pharmacy select students as individuals rather than solely on academic performance. This leads to a wide range of entry qualifications. Such diversity benefits the university, the undergraduates generally and the profession. In any event, it appears that there will be a greater need for a wider participation policy in the future.

Finally, are all pharmacy undergraduates satisfied with their chosen profession? The number leaving the profession, for a variety of reasons, should be a concern for our professional body.

Malcolm G. Aiken
Lewes, East Sussex

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