$7 Million To Increase Specialists in Pharmacy Sector

29 May 2008

Patients can look forward to receiving more specialized and professional services from their pharmacists in public healthcare institutions as more pharmacists are encouraged to pursue specialist training. The Ministry of Health (MOH) will be providing $7 million over the next 5 years towards a total of 35 scholarships in specialist residency training, and 43 in Doctorate and Master programmes. These programmes will offer excellent learning opportunities by way of overseas clinical attachments in centres of excellence such as the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Pharmacists with specialized training will be able to complement doctors to provide better patient care through cost-effective drug prescribing, optimal dosing of drugs and fewer drug-therapy related complications.

There are about 1,500 registered pharmacists in Singapore, making them the third largest healthcare professional group, after nurses and doctors. With a growing population and a rapidly ageing community, more pharmacists are needed to meet with the increased healthcare needs of Singaporeans. The Singapore Pharmacy Board (SPB) has projected that Singapore would need an additional 200 pharmacists each year for the next 5 years. In addition, more pharmacists with specialist expertise will also be required, particularly in areas such as oncology, cardiology, critical care, infectious diseases, geriatrics and psychiatry.

To cope with the increased demand, MOH will also be stepping up its recruitment efforts overseas.  Fresh pharmacy graduates from SPB-recognised  overseas pharmacy schools overseas will soon be allowed to do their pre-registration training here. Upon successful completion of the training and, passing the pharmacy law and competency examinations they will be able to register with the SPB. In addition, the SPB will also allow pharmacists who are registered in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to register with them if they fulfill all prescribed examinations and pre-registration training. These initiatives to increase the number of pharmacist in Singapore will be effected once the new Pharmacists Registration Act comes into effect by end of this year. 

Background

The new Pharmacists Registration Act was passed by Parliament in September 2007 to ensure that pharmacists continue to stay relevant to the current practice and new developments in the field of pharmacy. The Act include compulsory continuing professional education for pharmacists, the setting up of a Pharmacists Specialists Register, the introduction of conditional and temporary registration which will allow greater flexibility towards recruitment of foreign-trained pharmacists to Singapore, and the introduction of a more rigorous disciplinary proceedings framework.  

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

29 MAY 2008