Developing medicines supply competency in Pacific Island Countries: A needs-based approach to education

Abstract

Context: Limited human resources are a major impediment to achieving the health -related Millennium Development Goals in a number of Pacific Island Countries. A lack of education capacity to support competency development in medicine supply management is one of the main issues affecting workforce development in this region. Description of programme: A new approach is proposed involving partnership between the United Nations Population Fund, the University of Canberra, Ministry of Health Officials and the health personnel within the Pacific region. The International Pharmacy Federation Pharmacy Education Taskforce 䮥eds based? approach to pharmacy education and a participatory action research methodology are used to form the framework for this new approach. Future plans: The strategy has as its starting point the need to understand local culture and its impact on learning and teac hin g; the mapping of competency requirements and an understanding of currently available information and materials. Subsequently this information will be applied to develop and trial new pedagogical approaches to the training of health personnel involved in medicines supply.