First consultation to help shape future of pharmacy education
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has launched the first consultation in its education policy development programme, “Fit for the future”.
The consultation focuses on draft principles for pharmacy education
and training. The draft principles cover areas such as selection of
students/trainees, curriculum, assessment, fitness to practise, teaching
and training, resources and quality.
The principles will guide the development and review of pharmacy education
and training provision and the framework within which the Society will
review and update its own education standards.
The consultation period runs until 24 November. A consultation paper, “Principles
of pharmacy education and training” (PDF 70K), is available
on the Society’s
website.
The draft consultation paper and the proposed consultation process were
approved
by Council at its April meeting (PJ, 15 April, p454). The consultation
will aim to provide a framework for all subsequent phases of the “Fit
for the future” programme, which will examine education across
the pharmacy team and across the careers of individual pharmacists and
pharmacy technicians. The programme will focus on different aspects of
the education process, including policy-setting for postregistration
education and revalidation, reviewing education standards and quality
assurance systems and developing an implementation programme.
Graham Philips, chairman of the Council’s Education Committee,
said: “The Society has the responsibility to ensure that pharmacy
education and training deliver not only the knowledge but also the skills,
attitudes and values that make for high quality and safe practice. ‘Fit
for the future’ is a major piece of work designed to meet the challenges
of educating the pharmacy team of tomorrow.
“As a community pharmacist I find this an exciting piece of work.
The development of patient-focused attitudes and clinical skills will
help
ensure that the public benefit from a profession with the most up-to-date
knowledge and know-how.
“We will be engaging with our members and key stakeholders on the
draft principles and encourage anyone interested in the future of pharmacy
education and training to contribute their views so the principles are
informed by as wide a perspective as possible.”
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal