Dear Richard,
with some delay but I wanted to make sure that our course
here got started. I totally agree with you on the need to
fill a gap in the training of pharmacist who become involved
in pharmaceutical management and policies.
Unfortunately, there hardly is any public health
perspective in the training pharmacists and pharmacists who
get involved on the issues simply have to learn on the job.
At PAHO/WHO as well as WHO and MSH and numerous other
agencies , we have also been working on these issues and
there are a few positive examples to be mentioned.
The School of Public Health in Medellin, Colombia has been
offering a course on Pharmaceutical Supply Management,
however also including modules on public health,
epidemiology, strategic planning and national drug policies.
This course has also been adopted and modified by the
School of Public Health in Fortaleza,Brazil, now including
pharmaceutical regulation as well. Also the School of Public
Health of FIOCRUZ in Rio de Janeiro is offering a course on
Pharmaceuticals regulation.
All these courses are aimed at pharmaceutical managers who
are working in supply systems and on regulatory issues.
Several univeristies are discussing the possibilities to
incorporate these courses as regular courses in the academic
programa for pharmacists. Per separate I shall send you a
pack of training material of the Medellin Course.
OF course a lot remains to be done, but at least the
necessity has been identified and Faculties of Pharmacy as
well as Schools of Public Health have become interested on
the issue.
WE welcome any further news. Best regards, Kees de Joncheere