Doctor of Pharmacy
A Doctor of Pharmacy is a professional doctorate in pharmacy. In some countries, it is a proficient graduate degree to practice the profession of pharmacy or to become a clinical pharmacist. In many countries, people with their Doctor of Pharmacy are allowed to practice independently and can prescribe drugs directly to patients. A PharmD program has significant experiential and/or clinical education components in introductory and advanced levels for the safe and effective use of drugs. Experiential education prepares graduates to be practice-ready, as they already have spent a significant amount of time training in areas of direct patient care and research.
Africa
Algeria
In Algeria, Doctor of Pharmacy degree replaced the state's diploma of pharmacist in 2011, thus concepts on clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical care were taught for the first time. Algeria has 01 Faculty of Pharmacy and 08 Pharmacy Department.Egypt
PharmD is a professional degree in pharmaceutical sciences and according to newly adopted educational advancements, it is the minimum requirement to be licensed as a Pharmacist in Egypt, the curriculum consists of 6 years, this program is intended for students who have graduated from High school. As for the Pharmacists with a bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences who graduated before the decree of the new law, there is a Postgraduate PharmD offered by many faculties of Pharmacy for Pharmacists, The duration of the program consists of two calendar years. The first year consists of many didactic courses covering topics such as pharmacotherapy, pharmacokinetics, and pharmaceutical care of many diseases. The second year consists of clinical rotations in different specialties including ambulatory care, oncology, cardiology, nephrology, pediatrics, and others. Some of the universities that offer this degree include Cairo University, Ain Shams University, Mansoura University, Tanta University, Alexandria University, Suez Canal University, Beni- Suef University and Galala University.Ghana
PharmD is a 6-year course offered in Ghana from the academic year 2012/2013, initially by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. It leads to the award of the Doctor of Pharmacy certificate making one eligible to qualify, register and operate as a licensed pharmacist. An aggregate of 06 in the WASSCE results is currently the acceptable cut-off point. Also, a year top-up program was rolled out in the 2017/18 academic year for practicing pharmacists with the B.Pharm qualification to obtain the Pharm.D qualification which will soon become the minimum degree for licensure. The University of Health and Allied Sciences - Volta Region, The University of Ghana - Legon, Entrance University College of Health Sciences - Spintex and Central University - Miotso The University for Development Studies-UDS, Tamale, have also rolled out the Pharm.D program.The first graduating group of the Pharm.D course in Ghana graduated in °2018.
Morocco
PharmD is a program offered at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat. and the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca. In Morocco, Pharm.D studies can only be accessed through a competitive examination happening at the start of the first year of health studies. All candidates hold a Scientific Baccalaureate from the equivalent to high schools. About a 100 students are accepted every year. In order to obtain the state diploma of "Doctor of Pharmacy", studies last a minimum of six years, or 11 years for students choosing residency. It is accessible through another two competitive exams, even more selective. The first is accessible in the start of the sixth year, it grants residency after two years of internship and after the student defends their thesis. The second is accessible after obtaining the doctorate. Residency lasts four years and gives another diploma of specialist like in medicine.Nigeria
Presently, these are the only universities in Nigeria offering the Doctor of Pharmacy program. These are the University of Benin, Benin City, Bayero University, Kano, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Jos, Gombe State University, Delta State University, Abraka, University of Ilorin, and University of Ibadan, and the State University of Medical And Applied Sciences, Igbo Eno, and most recently, the University of PortHarcourt in 2023. The University of Benin commenced the program in 2001 following the approval given for the commencement of the program by the regulatory government agency for pharmacy education and practice in the country, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. However, it was not until 2016 that the overall regulatory government agency for all university degree programs in the country, National Universities Commission, formally approved the PharmD degree program. Like other universities approved for PharmD program in Nigeria, the PharmD in Uniben is a six-year undergraduate program. Upon successful completion of the program in Uniben, students are awarded both the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree and the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Prior to the commencement of the program, the university offered a five-year BPharm degree program which commenced in 1970. In the PharmD program, students are given extensive didactic preclinical/professional clinical preparation as well as clinical training in different hospitals and community pharmacies. Students are prepared to have knowledge on patients counseling, drug information, pharmaceutical care, adverse drug reaction reporting, pharmacovigilance and much more. Pharmacy council of Nigeria and the national professional body of pharmacists, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, have envisaged that in the near future, PharmD degree will become the minimum educational qualification for the registration/licensing of fresh graduates of Nigeria's pharmacy schools for practice in the country. Through the efforts of the PCN, most pharmacy schools in Nigeria are now intensifying their preparations to commence the PharmD degree program.South Africa
Since 2006, Pharm.D is a post-graduate course being offered by Rhodes University.Tunisia
The PharmD program has been available in Tunisia since 1975.There is only one faculty in Tunisia that provides education for PharmD; Faculty of pharmacy of Monastir.
It is a diverse program focusing on pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry and biology along with marketing and management.
It can have two minors : biological pharmacy and industrial pharmacy.
Asia
Bangladesh
At present a five-year professional degree is offered in various public universities in Bangladesh. Previously, it was a four-year degree and a one-year degree in Pharmacy is offered in numerous universities of Bangladesh. The study material is taught in English. The textbooks, exams as well as thesis are also provided in English. The universities are the University of Dhaka since 1964, Jahangirnagar University since 1982, University of Chittagong, Rajshahi University, Khulna University, Jagannath University, Pabna University of Science & Technology, Jessore University of Science & Technology and Noakhali Science & Technology University, Gopalganj Science and Technology University. All of these are government universities. There are also 20 private universities in Bangladesh offering pharmacy education. Among them Gono Bishwabidyalay, BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Southeast University, East West University, Northern University Bangladesh since 2003, Daffodil International University, University of Science and Technology Chittagong, Stamford University Bangladesh, Manarat International University, Dhaka International University, The University of Asia Pacific, International Islamic University Chittagong, North South University, ASA University Bangladesh, City University and University of Development Alternative, Bangladesh University are the top rated private universities. It is the best for home and abroad students. The B.Pharm. is completed in 4 years and the M.Pharm. in one year. Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh is the Professional Regulatory Authority for Pharmacists in Bangladesh.India
The PharmD degree was introduced by the Government of India and Pharmacy Council of India in 2008. It is a post-graduate professional doctorate of 6 years which includes 5 years of study and 1 year of internship or residency. It was introduced to improve clinical pharmacy services in the country and is the only service which is in direct contact with the patient health care system. The first batch of post-baccalaureate PharmD students graduated in August 2011 and the first regular batch graduated in June 2014. The PharmD degree requires 5 years of classroom and hospital-based didactic study, followed by one year of internship training in hospitals in addition to ongoing practicals and finishing a research project.With reference to the clarification on the PharmD qualification and designation of "Dr." for graduates, it was clarified to all universities that the PharmD is a post-graduate degree and passing students can directly register for a PhD from 2012. With all the changes made to the degree, it is still only approved by the PCI, as the National Medical Commission does not recognize the degree in India. After the Amendment in August 2019, it is now compulsory for hospitals to develop a DIC. It will be head by a PharmD graduate; similarly, another cadre was created, the "Clinical Pharmacist". The only minimum educational qualification required for the cadre is the PharmD. The Clinical Pharmacist must also assist the physician and other medical representatives to promote the wellness and correct use of medications for patients.