E-DRUG: Pharmaceutical supply chain management courses
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I have been following the discussion on the pros and cons of short
courses vs. "long" courses in pharmaceutical supply chain management
from the perspective of a provider of both types. There should be no
conflict between them, because each has its uses. The "short" course of,
say, two weeks is clearly valuable for practitioners who cannot leave
their work environments for long periods of time, or who cannot afford
the fees associated with a university-based course*. Examples are the
ARV Access for Africa/IDA course Supply Chain Management for HIV/AIDS
Medicines and Supplies http://www.aa4a.co.za/>
and the broader Rational Medicines Management from the Swiss Tropical
Institute
www.sti.ch/en/tut/advanced-studies-in-internathealth/rational-medicine-m
anagement.html.
"Long" courses of up to a year or so are often offered in a part-time or
distance learning format anyway, which allows for some flexibility.
Clearly, they provide for in-depth review of the principles of medicines
management, including the supply chain. A recent example is our
Postgraduate Diploma in Hospital Pharmacy Management, more details of
which are available from www.medunsa.ac.za/faculties/medicine/pharmacy.
The Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association has also updated its
distance learning course, Drug Supply Management, which should soon be
available at reasonable cost. Although intended primarily for mid-level
staff, pharmacists and other medicines supply chain managers would
benefit from it. Another broader course is the online Management of
Medicines in International Health
www.gc21.de/ibt/alumni/ibt/docs/announcement_f2f.pdf
All of these courses should support and build on each other by espousing
and promoting common basic principles, which should then be applied by
the "graduates" to their specific contexts. As people with a common
interest and the ability to apply what we know we should not need any
"dumbing-down" of teaching about the management of the pharmaceutical
supply chain. Rather we should be documenting the implementation of what
we have learnt, so that our successors can learn from us. I would be
more than pleased to receive information about such reports to improve
"capacity-building" in the future.
Note: * Short courses are often funded, whereas students are likely to
pay their own fees for postgraduate programmes.
Rob Summers, Professor and Head of the School of Pharmacy, Medunsa
Campus, University of Limpopo, Pretoria (previously the Medical
University of Southern Africa - MEDUNSA)
robs@medunsa.ac.za