Dear Colleagues:
The article featured in this issue of the ACCP International Clinical Pharmacist newsletter represents one country’s experience in establishing clinical pharmacy practice and efforts to recognize clinical pharmacy as a specialty. “The State of Clinical Pharmacy in South Africa: Current and Future Perspectives” recounts the early development of clinical pharmacy services in South Africa, the advances in pharmacy education that emphasize pharmacotherapeutics and experiential education, and the efforts of national organizations to provide professional development programs that assist pharmacists in gaining the clinical knowledge and skills needed to deliver clinical pharmacy services. In addition, the article reports on the efforts by the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) to recognize clinical pharmacy as a specialty and the proposed requirements for this recognition.
A continuum of advances in pharmacy education and practice are taking place worldwide. The focus on developing pharmacists’ patient care services and qualified preceptors was evident at the 65th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress, held in Delhi in December of last year. Key pharmacy leaders discussed the role of the future Indian pharmacist and the importance of patients’ and other health care professionals’ understanding and recognition of this new role. In Canada, professional organizations and schools of pharmacy are working toward transitioning from the bachelor’s degree to the Pharm.D. degree as the entry-level to practice by 2020 (CPhA Position Statement on a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree as an Entry-Level to Practice, Canadian Pharmacists Association, 2011).
This is indeed a critical time for the profession to advance clinical pharmacy education, develop essential patient care services, and prepare the workforce needed to educate and train the future clinical pharmacist to provide quality patient-centered pharmacy services.
ACCP International Clinical Pharmacist editorial staff encourages clinical pharmacist practitioners and educators to share their innovative practices and views on current issues of importance to the profession locally, nationally, and internationally.
Sincerely,
Wafa Y. Dahdal, Pharm.D., BCPS