E-DRUG: Different Models of Pharmacy (3)
Thank you Billy for bringing up this burning issue. It affects every facets of Professional education. The question: "why different models of pharmacy"? is really intricated & in sort of a way unrealistic from the global point of view of educational standard and qualification.
For sure, it is good to ensure that the competency priorities & focus of training was aimed at country specific needs. But, let us not forget that, pharmacy-students in several developing countries tends to be over-educated and grossly under-utilised. Within the Nigerian context, I am quiet aware that, the aforementioned statement of "over-educated and grossly under-utilised" does exist and vividly prevails. The great caution is that, we should be careful not to limit the intellectual potential and knowledge horizon of our fellow future professionals. We should remember that, there is already a gap in knowledge and research between developed & developing countries. The golden question is: how? and when? do we close this gap.
Reflecting on the statement that, " This would also ensure that students were not trained for international job market". Yes, I will buy that positive idea. But how do we approach that, in a positive manner from the panoramic point of view? There is always the challenging balance between, individual interest, family interest, society interest, national interest, and world interest. I believe irresponsible and unsafe government leadership in developing countries are the architects of all this controversies. Should the pharmacy professionals suffer this at their own expense? No. we need to rethink on other approaches of making the developed countries to carry along the developing nations and not of us (FIP) trying to widen the gap that is already in existence.
I outrightly agree that, there should be only one set of competencies that are necessary for entry into the pharmacy profession. Why the division in pharmacy profession? Are other medical and para-medical professions not facing the same problem if not more? Creating differences in competency means creating an abyss especially when fellow professional collegues (Pharmacist & Pharmacy-Students) intends to advance there knowledge in developed countries. Lets think of the problem that may arise when it comes to screening of candidates wishing to attend best international institutions to acquire best knowledge and techniques which could be of immense benefit to the developing world or nations.
It is uncall for to say that, there should be two models i.e. one for developing countries and one for developed countries. The solution is, the rich-developed nations should provide the means to support the poor-developing nations in terms of research and capacity building gearing towards a balanced-score. We should not hide under the canopy of "perhaps fine tuned for country/regional needs". In Nigeria and in most developing countries, it is explicitly clear that, the model which we use is according country, regional, and the world beyond (world at large).
Pharmacy students and fellow professionals do better at both country/regional and world level. The key thing is, how do we improve on their motivation and national patriotism? and not to limit their intellectual potentials and knowledge horizon.
In respect to hierachy, I know for certain that, it exist in Nigeria and specialization also exist through fellowship training courses. The core problem is, accepting change and dynamism in its content. Most developing countries are averse to changes in terms of leader and change management. Policy makers/decision makers in poor developing countries must be coarched or be trained on how to go about with Change Management & leadership which will enable them to ignore their selfish or old-fashioned (arcaic) conservatism.
Least we forget, lets try to obey the principle of pareto-optimality without infringement or detriment to our present or future pharmacy professional collegues. Thank you and looking forward to your kind response.
Shafiu Mohammed (B.Pharm, MScIH)
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science,
Ahmadu Bello University (A.B.U.),
Zaria - Nigeria.
Shafiu Mohammed