Globally, the role of pharmacists is changing to a more patient centred, and biotechnological oriented role not covered by most of the current study programmes. There is a need for specialisation and, especially in Latin America (LA) according to the reports of many professional and academic associations. COPHELA aims to develop and pilot implementation of a COPHELA M.Sc. in pharmacy that by increasing specialisation and research in hospital, community and industrial pharmacy foster the development of pharmacy in LA in conjunction with EU.COPHELA M.Sc. will develop innovative course units with two main characteristics: 1. a competence-based learning framework that fits in well with the highly heterogeneous regulations of the pharmacy profession in the Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, etc. and thus can be of general application and use in LA; 2. using distance learning technology to avoid the excessive cost of the traditional specialisation courses that limit access to many LA pharmacists. The materials generated will be freely available. COPHELA will also develop quality assurance tools to facilitate the recognition of the courses. This M.Sc. development will therefore also be the starting point for the development of post-registration continuous professional development and for the validation of learning in universities all around the world and in the work place.The short-term impact will be the production of pharmacy specialists adapted to the modern LA and EU situation. The long-term impact will be a global improvement of LA healthcare with more efficient pharmaceutical care and the evolution of the LA pharmaceutical industry.The impact for the EU will be improvement in collaboration with LA in the fields of pharmacy education, healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. The tools and teaching material developed will be used to promote continuing professional development for EU pharmacists.
Objectives were addressed to solve the above-mentioned problems: 1) to prepare pharmacists to be part of the implementation of the new therapies and drug technologies and to prepare them for the personalized medicine as part of clinical teams. In addition, to foster research; 2) to eliminate the barriers of time, distance, and costs by using the opportunities of the communications technologies; 3) to build cooperation in the above fields as well as in quality assurance to increase recognition.
According to the OECD and World Health Organization, there is a need for specialization in Pharmacy in line with the advancement of science and the new roles of pharmacists. Main barriers to access specialized education are time, distance, and costs. Community pharmacists, which are the majority, cannot attend classes because of their professional commitment. Distance is a big obstacle especially in rural areas of LA.; and specialization is expensive for novel and assistant pharmacist
<< Background >> According to the OECD and World Health Organization, there is a need for specialization in Pharmacy in line with the advancement of science and the new roles of pharmacists. Main barriers to access specialized education are time, distance, and costs. Community pharmacists, which are the majority, cannot attend classes because of their professional commitment. Distance is a big obstacle especially in rural areas of LA.; and specialization is expensive for novel and assistant pharmacist << Objectives >> Objectives were addressed to solve the above-mentioned problems: 1) to prepare pharmacists to be part of the implementation of the new therapies and drug technologies and to prepare them for the personalized medicine as part of clinical teams. In addition, to foster research; 2) to eliminate the barriers of time, distance, and costs by using the opportunities of the communications technologies; 3) to build cooperation in the above fields as well as in quality assurance to increase recognition. << Implementation >> Kickoff meeting in March 2019, immediately after the grant holder meeting. Everything was working perfectly until March 2020 with the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. The subsequent actions were done virtually, with a few exceptions, until September 2022, in which we academic activities were fully restored. In addition, the equipment was delayed by the closing of the provider company and by the bureaucracy of the customs. We applied for an extension of 1,5 years and got only 1. << Results >> 14 online courses (MOOCs) offered free, in 3 languages, and developing the above objectives. Quality assurance tools and strategies for the recognition and accreditation by academic institutions and professional associations, including the International Pharmaceutical Federation and OpenupEd . Creation of the COPHELA group with 11 HEIs from 7 countries and 33 Associated academic and non-academic institutions and the commitment for implementing an Erasmus Mundus Joint master’s degree.