The National Council for Tertiary Education is calling for a review of the curriculum of pharmaceutical education in the country.
They are worried the current educational system does not provide requisite skills to meeting what is becoming a complex health system and patients.
According to them, modern pharmacists deserve more than technical knowledge to function well in this system.
Executive Secretary, Professor Mahama Duwiejua says stakeholders must contribute to a curriculum responsive to our needs and yet meet international standards.
Prof. Duwiejua however indicated that revising the curriculum does not necessarily automatically reflect in change of old habits of practitioners.
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the global association of national association of pharmacists has developed a set of global minimum competences encompassing desirable attributes of pharmacists.
This is not an attempt to impose anything on any country according to the body, but to encourage countries to adapt them to suit their local conditions.
They also advise the faculty and pharmacy council to consult this document and verify how the revised curriculum meets the recommendations.
‘Change is only meaningful if it reflects in practice. We must therefore ensure that the expected competences described in the curriculum are achieved,’ he indicates.
He was speaking at the maiden public lecture of Academic, Social and Research Pharmacists Association of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana.
Child, maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS targets in the Millennium Development Goals are still further away from being attained.
The Council for tertiary education however believes the absence of inter-professional training in pharmaceutical institutions could be blamed for the situation.
This, they are sure will create better coordination between pharmacist and other professional in the health sector.
They are worried about inadequate inter-professional interaction, especially in the course of training among health professionals.
As a result friction and conflicts issues arise when they find themselves in a common working environment.
Professor Duwiejua therefore wants the institution of an inter-professional accreditation to accompany the regular certification of pharmacists.
Story by Prince Appiah
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