E-drug: Community service for young pharmacists (cont'd)
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I agree that my last contribution was starting to debate a wider issue
of competence which, although important, is not the immediate
concern of the original question. I apologise if I appear to have
clouded the issue. However, as there is clearly still some debate going
on about competency and its assessment it may be worth considering
the wider points. In simple terms I think I was trying to say, amongst
other things, that 'service' doesn't have to be just service and it can
be training as well. Maybe there is here an opportunity rather than a
threat.
Compare with the medical model whereby care is given and service
delivered while training is taking place. This is not limited to training
to
receive registration but continues beyond that. The training is
managed in many places through a collegiate system, but that is only
a way for the medics to avoid someone else managing the quality and
delivery. For instance in UK, I believe, membership of college of GP's
is required before one can be a principal of a general practice. Similar
qualifications are required before consultant status can be achieved.
All these people were registered within the GMC after one year of
'internship'.
Are we saying that for pharmacy the need for that defined
competence is not there and anyone after one additional year after
university has all the skills needed to practice unaided and unguided?
Cannot be too difficult then, can it?
Tim Dodd
Ghana Natioanl Drugs Programme
Email: Cath_and_Tim_Dodd@compuserve.com
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