UNM’s Pharmacy Society students on an industrial trip, all dressed up to keep the medicines safe.
IT IS no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic has altered the healthcare system globally.
It has also enhanced the contribution of pharmacists in the wider healthcare context – from being pivotal in the development of new treatments or vaccines in the pharmaceutical industry to ensuring patients have accessible professional advice to address concerns about Covid-19 or other healthcare issues.
The UK's General Pharmaceutical Council introduced a major change in the education of pharmacy students whereby pharmacists are equipped to effectively care for patients and prescribe medication as soon as they become registered pharmacists.
On local shores pharmacists were recently authorised to administer Covid-19 vaccines to the public. Plus they are usually the first point of contact for the public to seek health advice and medicine.
University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) delivers the 2+2 MPharm programme which is fully accredited by the UK's General Pharmaceutical Council and the Pharmacy Board Malaysia. Academics at UNM School of Pharmacy stay attuned to the changing trends of healthcare, both locally and globally.
In future, UNM academics foresee pharmacists playing a more active role to administer other types of immunisation.
Prof Ting says the University of Nottingham trains all pharmacy students to rise to meet the ever-evolving role of pharmacists in the 21st century.
“As the pharmacist profession evolves over the decades, pharmacists have gained increasing responsibilities and criticality amongst healthcare professionals,” said UNM School of Pharmacy head Prof Ting Kang Nee.
“In some countries, pharmacists have legally been allowed to prescribe independently, including in the UK since 2006.
“We will be training all our pharmacy students at University of Nottingham with the skills and competencies to be qualified independent prescribers once they graduate, allowing them to rise to meet the ever-evolving role of pharmacists in the 21st century,” she added.
Students develop good communication skills by running their own simulated pharmacy in the fourth year.
Preparing graduates for future jobs
At UNM students would have the clinical interaction experience through placements in the community, with general practitioners, hospital pharmacies as well as insight placements with other healthcare professionals.
Students would develop skills on how to advise patients and healthcare professionals on the safe and effective use of medicines.
On top of placement opportunities available to UNM MPharm students, these students are also given career advice, support in job application and dedicated career talks from renowned pharmacists from various sectors.
There will also be regular career fairs hosted by UNM with future employers, therefore students would be able to take this opportunity to further discuss requirements as well as have all the information they need to evaluate their opportunities.
UNM is moulding its students for promising career prospects, whether it is running a pharmacy or becoming a prescriber with expertise and knowledge that can provide quality assured patient care.
What’s more, students will also be trained to have good communications skills and self-confidence.
