Provision of clinical pharmacy education and services by RAK college of pharmaceutical sciences, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Abstract

Objectives: Internationally, the role of pharmacist has now been extended from the provision of traditional services to patient specific care services. Unlike other developed countries, clinical pharmacy services are very rare in the health care settings of United Arab Emirates (UAE). Hence, clinical pharmacy based education and training is the need of the hour. Materials and Methods: RAK College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (RAKCOPS) through its innovative undergraduate pharmacy curriculum with a practice-oriented training, is enabling the students to acquire knowledge, skills, and practice to apply in a healthcare set up. RAKCOPS established a clinical pharmacy department in the year 2009 at Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidallah Hospital of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, which is a 330 bedded tertiary care medical specialty hospital. In the year 2007, RAKCOPS initiated undergraduate pharmacy program of 4.6 years (B. Pharm) with a one semester of practice school training in the last semester. Results: Practice school training as a part of B. Pharm program is mainly designed to help the students to gain confidence in their ability to be an active and useful participant in the healthcare. Clinical pharmacy related services such as drug and poison related information, adverse drug reaction (ADR) monitoring, and reporting are also provided by the department of clinical pharmacy. Conclusion: Pharmacy practice related education and practice-based training provided for the undergraduate pharmacy students will be definitely a major contribution towards bringing up quality clinical pharmacists in UAE, who will be a major asset for the healthcare team.

Keywords

• Clinical pharmacy
• clinical pharmacist
• drug information
• pharmacy practice
• pharmacy education