Advances in Medical Education and Practice (Feb 2022)
Reintroduction of Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD, Post-Bac) Program in Nepal: Exploration of the Obstacles and Solutions to Move Forward
Abstract
Sunil Shrestha,1,2,* Sweta Shrestha,3,* Binaya Sapkota,2,* Rajani Shakya,3 Rohullah Roien,4 Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim5 1Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Service Research, Nepal Health Research and Innovation Foundation, Lalitpur, Nepal; 2Nobel College of Health Sciences, Affiliated to Pokhara University, Kathmandu, Nepal; 3Department of Pharmacy, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal; 4Medical Research Centre, Kateb University, Kabul, Afghanistan; 5Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Sweta Shrestha; Rohullah Roien, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: This commentary article highlights the status of clinical pharmacy education in Nepal, explores the challenges and solutions in sustainably reintroducing Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD, Post-Bac) in Nepal, as was previously launched by Kathmandu University (KU) Department of Pharmacy in 2010, and suggests a few prospects forward. Clinical pharmacy practice has remained on the sidelines and subordinate to physicians in Nepal. KU launched the PharmD (Post-Bac.) as a postgraduate program to establish the professional identity of clinical pharmacists in the country. However, despite unremitting efforts, the program did not thrive long and held since 2014. This paper aimed to explore challenges that remained at the forefront of the program and provide possible solutions for its reintroduction. The KU produced three batches of PharmD Post-Bac. graduates and now the revival of the program is crucial. Undoubtedly, a well-trained clinical preceptor can bring significant changes in the quality and competency of the PharmD graduates. Advocacy programs to foster the role of clinical pharmacists in the patient care services and revisiting of Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) curriculum to complement the necessity of the PharmD program are needed. The non-sustenance of the PharmD program is emblematic of the dire mosaic that the clinical pharmacists are facing while delivering patient-oriented services in the country. Hence, strategies need to be formulated for the revival and sustainability of the program.Keywords: clinical pharmacy, PharmD, pharmacist, Nepal
