APTI ijopp - Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice

Indian J. Pharm. Pract. 1(2), Jan-Mar, 2009pharmacology since 1940s, formation of the American By 1980s, the authorities in US adopted PharmD as aSociety of Hospital Pharmacists(ASHP) in 1942, national professional degree program and by 1992, theinnovative teaching programs introduced in 1940s and AACP and the various pharmacy professional50s, and the decline of pharmacology instructions in organizations in America took a joint decision to makemedical schools. The introduction of PharmD program Pharm D as the minimum requirement for practice ofcontributed effectively for the development and Pharmacy in USA. Since the graduating class of 2006,popularisation of clinical pharmacy as a speciality of the BS Pharm degree has been completely replaced bypharmaceutical sciences. More over, the distributive PharmD degree in USA(Carrie 2008). All theseaspects of the pharmacy profession was entrusted to the developments have positively influenced the pharmacypharmacy technicians (Tse CS 2007).educational institutions and authorities throughout theGenesis of PharmDworld to take proper precautions at their countries.Hospital pharmacy attained new status at the University Influence of American system in other countries.of Michigam under the chief of their hospital pharmacy In 1992, the American Association of Colleges ofservices Harvey AK Whitney Sr in the late 1920s and Pharmacy (AACP) house of delegates voted to supportearly 1930s. In 1942 when he started the ASHP, his vision a single entry level educational program at the doctoralof pharmacy got percolated into the pharmacy level (PharmD). The national organisation that accreditscommunity of USA and other parts of the world pharmacy degree programs the Accreditation Council for(Mc Leod 2006). However, it was a surprise to many Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) endorsed thepharmacy professionals in various parts of the world, decision of the AACP. However, till 1998, the Americanwhen a pharmacy program of study leading to the Universities and Pharmacy Schools were runningprofessional degree, Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), programs like B.S (Pharmacy) / B.Pharm and PharmDwas initiated in the University of California at San simultaneously. In 1998, orders were issued to allFrancisco (UCSF), USA in 1955. Though the clinical American Universities to replace their B.S (Pharmacy)pharmacy concepts were discussed and debated in the and B.Pharm programs with PharmD to make thecountry from 1940s itself, the take-off of the PharmD in prospective pharmacists eligible for practice ofUCSF was not smooth and resistance free. The program pharmacy. The adoption of PharmD as the nationalhad to face some unfriendly reactions and resistances pharmacy education program to practice pharmacy infrom certain corners within the country. But many other USA was the result of the success story of practiceuniversities started to adopt the PharmD in the 1960s. oriented, service based and patient focused model ofSome other Universities including the University of pharmacy practice at the community and hospital levels.Kentucky had also taken leading roles in developing Advantages of PharmD programPharmD helps to develop abilities and skills requiredClinical Pharmacy programs in the world. Due to thei) To practice pharmaceutical care, the concept ofinnovative thinking of people like Paul F Parker, manywhich is based on sharing the responsibility for theclinical pharmacy activities were introduced inout comes of drug and related therapy.pharmacy in the 1960s. Inspired from the success of ii) To effectively communicate with patients andWhitney's experiment of Drug Information center in health care professionals.Michigan University, Paul F Parker opened the first iii) To scientifically conduct patient interview with theDrug Information Center at a Pharmacy School in 1962. objective of developing patient data base.The first hospital wide unit dose distribution program in iv) To be competent to conduct research studies onthe country was also initiated at the University of drugs and patients in specific areas of interest.Kentucky in 1965. In 1968, the pharmacy residencyv) To be able to design, implement and evaluateprogram was started that awarded both PharmD degreevarious research projects in health care.vi) To refine pharmacy practice skills throughand residency certificate.evidence-based concepts.It took about two decades for getting PharmDvii) To inculcate problem solving skills.popularised in USA and other parts of the world. In 1973 viii) To be able to take up projects and programs in theUCSF started Department of Clinical Pharmacy as an area of health sciences with special focus onindependent unit, which was responsible for the pharmacoeconomics, medication error and phardevelopmentof the first clinical pharmacy curriculum macovigilance.in the world. Today, the clinical pharmacy residency ix) To promote and practice prudent and rational useprogram of UCSF is the largest in USA.of medicines aimed at patient care.9