GOOD EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES IN PHARMACY

There is no single, best model for the education and training of pharmacists on the world- wide basis but there are common concepts, principles and practices that can be employed by policy makers of pharmacy education to meet the needs of society locally, regionally and globally. The recommendations in this document on Good Education Practices (GEP) provide a conceptual framework for the design, implementation and assessment of contemporary educational program for pharmacists throughout the world.

But, there are neither enough carrots nor enough sticks to improve undergraduate education without the commitment and action of students and faculty members. They are the precious resources on whom the improvement of pharmacy education depends.In the present technical era of education, we need to follow the seven principles of GEP to embrace the quality and Excellence in the pharmaceutical education. The institution which is able to meet all the requirement & quality standards of GEP should be crowned with GEP institution certificate.

GOOD EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES emphasizes on Seven Principles:-1.    Encourages contact between teachers and the taught, 2.    Develops reciprocity and cooperation among learners, 3.    Encourages active learning, 4.    Gives prompt feedback, 5.    Emphasizes task on time,6.    Communicates high expectations  and 7.    Respects diverse talents and ways of learning.

The role of the pharmacist is developing rapidly to meet the needs of modern health care systems. Pharmacists have, however, recognized for some years that equally important roles are to advise other healthcare professionals on safe and rational use of medicines and to accept responsibility for seeking to ensure that medicines are used safely and effectively by those to whom they are supplied so that maximum therapeutic benefit is derived from treatment.

it remains a challenge to develop suitable educational system for the changing environment in a rapidly developing science. Pharmacy schools should take initiatives to ensure an environment for dynamic education system to be able to equip graduates with technical knowledge and skills to fulfill the needs of pharmacy and the changing health-care system. Though most pharmacy students go into community or hospital pharmacy, we have to remember that our graduates should also be able to work effectively.