HKUMed Undergraduate Prospectus

WHAT IS PHARMACY? Pharmacy is the health profession that links the basic health sciences with the clinical application of drug treatment. It is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of drugs. Traditionally pharmacy mainly represented the compounding and dispensing of therapeutic agents. However, modern pharmacy now emphasises on the provision of optimal pharmaceutical care to patients. This means the responsible provision of drug therapy to achieve definite outcomes that improve a patient’s life expectancy and/or his/her quality of life. These outcomes are: (i) the treatment of diseases; (ii) the elimination or reduction of symptoms; (iii) arresting or slowing the disease process; and (iv) disease prevention/ health promotion. As health care develops towards the individualised rational use of therapeutic agents, the role and responsibilities of pharmacists are of increasing importance. BACHELOR OF PHARMACY (BPharm) ROLE OF PHARMACISTS Pharmacists are essentially the experts on drugs. They work as a part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team to provide quality pharmaceutical care to patients, i.e. providing clinical pharmacy service, recommending appropriate drug choices and monitoring outcomes of drug therapies. Pharmacists are able to practise in a wide variety of areas, including community pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, pharmaceutical industries and regulatory agencies. Pharmacists can specialise in various areas of practice including but not limited to: haematology/oncology, infectious diseases, drug information, critical care, paediatrics, etc. Clinical Pharmacy With the support of Queen Mary Hospital, students studying at HKU enjoy early clinical exposure and also benefit from the inter-professional collaboration of pharmacists and clinicians through teaching in wards and outpatient clinics. Patient Counselling and Communication Skills A key characteristic of the programme is to enhance students’ proficiency in providing primary health care services, including patient education. Students have various opportunities to acquire patient counselling and communication skills step-by-step with a gradual increase in the degree of mastery and in the complexity of the situations encountered. New Learning Approaches Diversified “fit-for-purpose” teaching pedagogies have been adopted to manifest the specific features of the curriculum. As an area of strength of the Medical Faculty, the problem-based learning (“PBL”) approach is adopted to encourage interdisciplinary inquiry and foster life-long learning skills. Exposure to Chinese Medicine as well as Complementary and Alternative Medicine The programme equips future pharmacists who practise in Hong Kong with the knowledge of Chinese Medicine as well as Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM). These include herbal medicines, nutraceuticals, health care products, cosmetics, etc., which are commonly used by many patients in conjunction with Western medicines. Training in Industrial Pharmacy Students of the programme have the opportunity to experience this subspecialty to realise the increasing demand of the local industry for professional pharmacy service. A wide spectrum of topics on the practical aspects related to industrial pharmacy is taught by experts with extensive work experience in the industry. 49 48 PROGRAMME FEATURES