AN EXTENDED Master's program that will grant the title of Doctor of Pharmacy is in the pipeline for this year, elevating the profession's status and capabilities.
Announced at Pharmacy Connect 2024 last week, in a joint session, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia's National President, Trent Twomey, and James Cook University's Head of Pharmacy, John Smithson, explained that current pharmacy education in Australia is falling short, compared to the four- to six-year qualifications required in many developed countries.
"The current system limits Australian pharmacists' global mobility and diminishes the profession's appeal," commented Smithson.
The proposed five-year program will build on the existing Bachelor's degree, integrating advanced training in areas like prescribing, chronic disease management, and business skills, better equipping pharmacists to make significant healthcare contributions, explained Smithson.
Twomey added that in Australia, a pharmacist cannot use the title 'Doctor', which is an anomaly that "we're going to fix in a matter of months".
Both speakers emphasised the need for more flexible entry pathways to attract skilled professionals from other allied healthcare fields, like paramedics and physiotherapists, and even included highly-motivated and experienced pharmacy assistants to step up.
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