GSK tasks PSN on continuous education for pharmacists

GLAXO SMITHKLINE (GSK) Pharmaceutical, in collaboration with Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), has called on Nigerian pharmacists to continue to upgrade their knowledge in order to mitigate brain drain in the sector through the Internet.

Speaking at the Scientific Course for Pharmacist Education (SCOPE) Programme in Ikeja, Lagos, where GSK signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PSN, the Managing Director, GSK, Lekan Asuni, said SCOPE, is an innovative educational, non promotional and free online training programme for pharmacists, which consists of nine disease area modules accredited by the United State based Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

Asuni, however, noted upon completion of each module, participants would be issued a certificate of completion by ACPE. Interestingly too, the certificate is required to qualify for 10 credit points towards the required 30 credit points under the Mandatory Continuous Professional Development (MCPD), programme of the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN).

Asuni said: “We are committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. A 2013 survey conducted in Nigeria revealed that 50 per cent of pharmacists seek training as a value added service from GSK, and we came up with the SCOPE, free online training programme in line with our investment focus on talents in Africa, to enhance knowledge of Pharmacists and to increase credibility of Pharmacists within their communities.

This is because we know the knowledge gained from the programme would certainly improve patients’ outcomes at the Pharmacy, therefore, improving their productivity and wellbeing, which is why we are in business in the first place”.

The Managing Director informed GSK, Pharmaceutical partnered with PSN, to ensure that all Pharmacists in Nigeria participate in the training programme and benefit from SCOPE, by receiving credit points recognised by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria PCN, towards their annual certification.

He said: “Under the partnership, GSK, should provide SCOPE, online activities free to Pharmacists as an educational grant while PSN should engage and promote the educational activity to its members and ensure that credit points accrued by participants is honoured”.

He continued. “The training programme is very important for better healthcare delivery in the country. The goal of any training programme should be to educate on current evidence based treatment goals and clinical management recommendations as well familiarise pharmacists with important concepts related to healthcare lifestyle as well as introducing them to techniques and skills for encouraging patients to adhere to prescribed therapy.

Technological advancements in the health sector make it mandatory that Pharmacists should be trained and retrained to update their knowledge capacities and acquire new skills in the management of patients”.

President, PSN, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, disclosed that the partnership with GSK would further strengthen PSN’s doggedness to promote and maintain a high standard of pharmaceutical education in Nigeria, adding that SCOPE, facilitates a future grounded on professionalism through new frontiers in quality education updates.

Akintayo said: “We consider education very important in PSN, so, our mission is to improve the quality of human life and also healthcare delivery in the country.

Through this initiative programme, SCOPE, we aim to enhance the knowledge of Nigerian pharmacists and in turn positively impacts the lives of patients in Nigeria.

The online platform was designed to implement the modules because its more cost effective than face to face trainings with a wider reach as pharmacists who are in far area can also benefit.

Access to quality education would indeed build credibility in the pharmaceutical industry”. The training programme is meant for all Pharmacists in the country.

The advised to participate through visiting SCOPE’s website http://cme.dannemiller.com/scope/ and successfully complete the activities, following which a certificate of completion is immediately issued to the participants by ACPE.