The pharmacy degree is highly regarded. But less than a third of all
licensed to work in community pharmacies. It is not only health
officials blame is the "Alma Mater" is still too much on research
content.
The pharmaceutical industry is booming as long gone: the winter
semester 2011/2012 nearly 1,900 high school graduates have begun with
this study, statistically, 250 more than a year ago. The number of
candidates is of 3,900 had grown to 4,500. So come on every university
place on average 2.4 Interested, reported the foundation for high
school admission, older semesters still known as the "Central Office
for the Allocation of Study Places" (ZVS). The subject is offered at
22 universities, 12 700 students are currently enrolled.
In itself a positive development, but can fill as approved by
tomorrow all the gaps? This Erika Fink, president of the Federal
Chamber of Pharmacists. "We expect that demand will rise to
well-trained pharmacists in the future" In fact, the job prospects are
excellent, in the next few years, several pharmacists in the
well-deserved retirement. But only about 28 percent of 451 surveyed
pharmacy students enter the community pharmacy as a dream destination
- but 84 percent according to figures of the ABDA - Federal Union of
German Associations of Pharmacists work later, for better or worse
there. Can speculate about the reasons, in many forums and letters to
students in addition to standard industry but criticized the lack of
concern for the future practical relevance of the universities.
Patient - the unknown entities
Is no shortage of content - between auditorium, seminar room and
laboratory, the days are filled more than ample. Total syntheses of
heterocyclic compounds, breaking strength of tablets or taxonomy of
medicinal plants - was not there something? All contents are based on
strong scientific and pharmacologically to criticize experts.
According to Professor Dr. Hartmut Derendorf of the University of
Florida, Gainesville, USA, Germany lacked in the patient-oriented
perspective. And concretized Peter Ditzel, chief editor of Deutsche
Apotheker Zeitung: "The hitch on communication behavior. So why is not
the technical communication training? Why not a curriculum in
communication training is provided? "Especially at the beginning of
the third section would be a customized training certainly useful.
Next flaw: the self-medication. Dabble in the craft without doctors
want to, it simply corresponds to the facts that patients with minor
ailments, first register at the pharmacy. Here too, would do courses
distress
Practically little available
Nothing new: As early as 2009, recommended that the German
Pharmacists' to incorporate more practical relevance in the study. An
important theme: Learning the basics of freelance work, many aspire to
own Approved Pharmacy remains on. This knowledge would still be
late-breaking, the number is growing in pharmacy stores. Store
managers to have an even heavier lot, are they in their discretion,
depending on the model contract more or less restricted. On the other
hand, employment contracts before seeing some sales-related bonuses.
Even the much quoted Clinical Pharmacy, for a good ten years
compulsory subject, puts in some places still in its infancy. To
analyze the current situation, started the National Association of
Pharmacy Students (BPhD), a nationwide online survey of all 22 student
councils, returns came from 20 agencies. The result: At 13
universities, the students are with the implementation of the subject
area are satisfied or very satisfied, but there is still room for
improvement at seven universities. At least 14 facilities exist in an
professor of clinical pharmacy, to another it is being planned.
Many of the respondents also missing a training pharmacy, only five
sites have integrated it into their training. "You can see that the
students are more satisfied, more extensive the pharmacist-patient
communication issues, pharmaceutical management, special populations,
such as diabetics or pregnant women, and are taught self-medication,"
says Daniel Madler, president of BPhD. Latest for pharmacists in
internship (Phips) pays this knowledge - currently sees only one out
of five respondents practical studies as preparation for the third
section.
Jump into the shark tank
And so the practice for many years in the making Approved begins more
or less stressful. Initial contacts with patients - as a goal-oriented
counseling can lead? Customers also understood all important advice?
Systematically trained to Phips in pharmacies are not always,
improvements are in progress: At the German Pharmacists (DAT) in 2011
brought the BPhD one of the Pharmacists' Association of
Westphalia-Lippe a potentially ground-breaking change: The resolution
calling the students for all the country's pharmacists, in a system of
accreditation to work for training pharmacists. "The pharmacy interns
must not only see from behind," said the former president BPhD
Maria-Christina Scherzberg. Uniform, mandatory standards as a goal?
Agreement signaled the delegates on the DAT to create despite the
reservations of some colleagues, a bureaucratic behemoth. Now a
working party will pursue the project further.
Best of Baden-Wuerttemberg
That it can work, showed Baden-Wuerttemberg: For about a year, there
are academic training pharmacies that have to go through an
accreditation process of the country's Chamber of Pharmacists. As Dr.
Günther Hanke, president of the LAC BW: "The criteria are
intentionally strict." Train may Phips, who is a specialist pharmacist
for general or clinical pharmacology. Also the training certificate
and a special course are mandatory. It is important to the LAC that
all areas are represented: HV including quality assurance and customer
pseudo including participation in laboratory proficiency testing ZL -
especially important to make young academics, public pharmacies tasty.
Meaningful training content just as moving some pharmacy students to
industry to drop plans and yet remain in the dispensary. Of these not
only benefit students in the third section - appropriately certified
pharmacies easier to find qualified personnel Phips or later. A duty
but also the universities.
Master of Disaster
To reform the universities are not lacking: Currently, pharmaceutical
bachelor's and master's degrees in Freiburg and Munich are available -
according BPhD but no alternative to the traditional pharmacy studies.
Rather, one should not concentrate on more quality for the future
approved. Also carries the politically explosive situation, the
legislature could loosen the regulations on skill shortages and open
the gates Master graduates of public pharmacies. Which in turn are
missing some essential content in the curriculum. Individual Master
graduates already reflect better of it and acquire by subsequent
courses, retreats and seminars but still their approval.
According to the study before the study
Pharmacists in the United States had similar problems with the
practical - and could bring itself to fundamental reforms several
years ago. Courses in the laboratory have been deleted in favor of
more practical approach, but now medical and pharmaceutical clinical
content is much higher in price. This system also has its price, the
training lasts six years, but still concludes with the "Doctor of
Pharmacy" (PharmD) from. For Germany could at least close in some
areas of postgraduate courses such as "practical economist of
Pharmacy" (Academy of Economic Studies German pharmacist) or the
Pharmacy Business Administration (University of Applied Sciences
Schmalkalden) vulnerabilities.
