How to Become a Pharmacist

Comparing the African Pharmacy Curriculum to the North American Curriculum

Pharmacists are clinical health care professionals who practice in pharmacy, specializing on safe and effective medication use, or what is known as “Pharmacy.” It is the branch of science that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences to ensure the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs. Pharmacists assume the a wide range of roles that includes compounding and dispensing medications, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, and providing drug information. Pharmacists are the experts on drug therapy optimizing medication use to provide patients with positive health outcomes.

Becoming a Pharmacist in Africa

Pharmacist education in Africa is more or less the same in terms of curriculum planning and admission requirements. It generally requires a high school diploma or its equivalent. It is a six-year course. The first four years focus on didactic education and simulation training, while the last two years are considered clinical residency in which students practice clinical pharmacy at various hospital and community pharmacies before they graduate. Most regions in Africa have a national board that regulates the influx and quality of graduates. It does not vary significantly in process and requirements with the North American countries but it according to research competencies are limited due to the curriculum selected which mainly focus on the following competencies:

• compounding and packaging of pharmaceutical products
• organize the procurement, storage and distribution of pharmaceutical materials and products
• interpret the medicines laws and the professional and pharmacy regulations in order to dispense correctly
• provide pharmacist-initiated care to patients and ensure the rational use of medicines
• provide information and education on health and medicines-related issues
• promote community health and provide related information and advice
• participate in research and evaluate critically new therapies and current advances in formulation and modes of drug action to ensure the optimal selection and use of medicines.

Becoming a Pharmacist in North America

In the North American countries, pharmacy requires 2 to 4 years undergraduate course in Associate or Bachelor degree in Pharmacy. Then, students proceed to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree that takes generally 4 years. All graduating pharmacists must now obtain the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree before they are eligible to sit for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination to enter into pharmacy practice. The difference lie in the richness of competencies that the North American curriculum is training for. North American curriculum for pharmacy promotes the following competencies:

• compounding medicines
• education and counseling for patients and other health care providers on optimal use of medicines (e.g. proper use, avoidance of over medication)
• clinical medication management, including reviewing and monitoring of medication regimens
• assessment of patients with undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions, and ascertaining clinical medication management needs
• specialized monitoring of disease states, such as dosing drugs in renal and hepatic failure
• providing pharmaceutical information
• providing patients with health monitoring and advice, including advice and treatment of common ailments and disease states
• supervising pharmacy technicians and other staff
• oversight of dispensing medicines on prescription
• provision of non-prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• referrals to other health professionals if necessary
• pharmacokinetic evaluation
• promoting public health by administering immunizations

Pharmacy and Other Medical Scholarships in Africa

To get a scholarship for pharmacy degree or any other medical course, you may check out the following African scholarships:

• ACCES scholarship program
• Africa Educational Trust Undergraduate International Outreach Bursaries
• African Graduate Scholarships in International Health and Development
• Africa Scholarship Scheme
• Associated Board International Scholarships
• Developing Countries Scholarships – CUD Scholarship Program
• Global Online Distance Learning Scholarships for Africans and Asians at University of Edinburgh
• International Undergraduate Student Scholarships
• Kenya Merit Undergraduate Scholarship – The University of Sheffield
• Kenya University Chancellor’s Scholarship
• Nigeria University Scholarship Scheme
• OPEC Fund Scholarship Award
• Refugee and Asylum Seeker Scholarships
• Shell Nigeria University Scholarship Awards
• The Kenya Youth Education Scholarship Fund
• Undergraduate & Master’s Mandela Rhodes Scholarships in Africa
• Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students
• Undergraduate Scholarships for Kenyan Students
• University Graduate School Development Trust Africa Scholarships
• University Of Nairobi Scholarships
• Working to Advance African Women Foundation Scholarship
• Youth Education Scheme Scholarship

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