Career boost for pharmacists

NUS Pharmacy has been appointed by Singapore’s Ministry of Health to assist with the implementation of the new National Pharmacy Residency Programmes. The Programmes are aimed at enhancing the clinical skills of future pharmacists to provide better pharmaceutical care to their patients in Singapore.

Commencing in January, they ensure the sustainability of a local training pipeline to produce pharmacists aspiring to be specialists. Adapting the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ standards, six locally developed post graduate Year 1 and post graduate Year 2 specialty residency programmes were accredited by the Pharmacy Specialists Accreditation Board in July 2015. The programmes comprise the National Pharmacy Residency Programme, as well as separate Programmes in cardiology, geriatrics, infectious diseases, oncology and psychiatry.

NUS Pharmacy has set up an Office of Residency Training (ORT), under the supervision of Associate Professor Alexandre Chan, to implement the Programmes. The inaugural cohort consists of five residents on the National Pharmacy Residency Programme, and one resident each undertaking the cardiology and geriatrics specialisations.

Elaborating on ORT’s responsibilities, former Head of NUS Pharmacy Associate Professor Chui Wai Keung said, “This is indeed an extended role for the Department in leading the education and training of advanced practitioner pharmacists in Singapore.” He added that the scope of ORT’s work would include monitoring the residents’ performance and progression, organising the Preceptor Training Programmes and the Annual Residency Conference, and verifying the disbursement of funds to partner hospitals.