Abstract

COMPETENCY BASED PHARMACY EDUCATION: AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT STATUS AND CHALLENGES

*Sultan Muhammad Salahudeen, Dr. Muhammad Hasan, Dr. Muzibunnisa Abdul Hathi Begam, Hiba Sultan, Dr. Avanapu Srinivasa Rao, Dr. Mohammed Gousuddin

ABSTRACT

Competency-based education (CBE) has emerged as a transformative approach in pharmacy curricula, focused on developing essential skills and behaviours for professional practice. Globally pharmacists have been contributing to reduce morbidity and mortality, reduce medication errors, improve rational use and prescribing of medicines, and increase access to health care and medicines. Ironically, in many countries, there is a severe shortage of appropriately trained and competent pharmacists and pharmaceutical human resources. The World Health Organisation, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation and International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Pharmacy Education Taskforce is steering sustainable pharmacy education and pharmacy workforce action to support and strengthen local, national, regional and international efforts. The primary purpose of pharmacy education is to produce competent pharmacists capable ofproviding patient-centered care. Competency-based education (CBE) is gaining prominence in pharmacy education as the profession evolves from product-oriented to patient-centered care. Interestingly, while CBE is growing in popularity, its mandatory implementation in pharmacy education remains uncertain. CBE in pharmacy education offers potential benefits in preparing a competent workforce to meet societal healthcare needs. Successful implementation requires strong institutional leadership, proper curricular design, and faculty training and development. The adoption of CBE varies globally, with most studies originating from high-income and developed countries. In the Asian and other developing nations elsewhere, despite a rich pharmacy history, there is a need for an explicit competency framework, and it needs extensive initiatives and commitment from various stakeholders to provide effective pharmacy workforce and successful implementation of the various national and international healthcare programmes.

Keywords: Competency based education, curriculum development, competency-based pharmacy education, competence, assessment.