KNUST lauded for role in training pharmacists
The Pharmacy Council of Ghana and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) have lauded the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
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Technology for its role in the training of pharmacists and the development of the pharmaceutical industry in the country.
They have also commended the university for introducing a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Programme four years ago to enhance the training of personnel for the pharmaceutical industry.
Authorities of the two institutions made the commendations when they paid a curtesy call on the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. William Otoo Ellis, during a visit to the KNUST to assess the programme.
The four-member delegation was made up of the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council, Mr Joseph Nyoagbe, and the Head of Education and Training of the council, Mr Daniel Amaning Danquah, while the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana was represented by the Vice President, Mr Godfred Kofi Abu, and the Executive Secretary, Mr Dennis Sena Awitty.
Background
The KNUST has for the past 40 years been training students in the four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, and through a collaborative effort between the KNUST, PSGH (the Professional Association) and the Pharmaceutical Council of Ghana (the regulatory authority in the Pharmacy industry in the country), the KNUST started the PharmD programme in 2012 to run a six-year training course.
At the moment, the KNUST is one of the five countries offering the programme in Africa, with a student population of 800 from year one to four.
In addition to students from Ghana, the new PharmD degree is being patronised by foreign students from 12 countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Gambia, Cameroun and others.
Mr Nyoagbe said the KNUST’s interest and support for the sector had contributed immensely towards the training and development of personnel for the industry for the local market and the world as a whole.
Changing trend
The Executive Secretary of the PSGH, Mr Denis Sena Awitty, said pharmaceutical practice globally was changing and so the introduction of the PharmD degree at KNUST was in the right direction.
He eulogised the KNUST for its vision and foresight, as well as its role towards the successful introduction of the programme to train more professionals to manage all aspects of pharmacy operations within a pharmaceutical unit, with emphasis on patients and customer relations, and was optimistic that graduates would offer their best after completion of their course.
For his part, Prof. Ellis said as part of efforts to ensure that the programme would run smoothly, the university spent two years to train some staff on best practices in countries where the same programme was run.
He also mentioned the establishment of a six-million euro centralised laboratory, fixed with equipment, for training, as well as the institution of a research laboratory in pharmacy for the training of the students.
During the visit, the delegation toured the various structures and institutions to assess the state of affairs and the level of development so far.
