COVID-19 Pandemic and its Impact on Pharmacy Education

• Published in: Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences 2021-04, Vol.18 (2), p.122-123
• Main Authors: Ashiq, Kanwal, Bajwa, Mayyda Asif, Ashiq, Sana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conflicts of interest; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Curricula; Distance learning; Drug stores; Education; Internships; Laboratories; Letter to the Editor; Online instruction; Pandemics; Pharmacy; Students
• ISSN: 1304-530X; 2148-6247
• DOI: 10.4274/tjps.galenos.2020.39024

[...]the other side of the picture hides some limitations besides the aforementioned tools and technologies, lending help in the crisis. Besides the support rendered, unobstructed network access, online interruptions, and voice modulations remained some of the technical flaws, other than the absence of emotional connection and real-time simulation still being in question.2 It is important to note that our current concerns and observations come from online sessions conducted with the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) program, a professional degree instituted on a multidisciplinary curriculum. [...]a solution was provided via recorded lectures followed by open-book tests and quizzes to establish sound feedback system.4 The pandemic effect on students in health fields such as Pharm-D was manifested in grave consequences comprising the loss of clinical rotations, laboratory demonstrations, industrial internships, and other clerkships. Having mentioned the issues and proposed solutions, the professionals graduating this year shall face consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides the educational interruptions they have faced, they shall be interviewed on strict grounds to assess their knowledge only if they have bypassed the residual effects of the pandemic, such as a major global recession.5,6 To conclude, COVID-19, which has acutely disrupted the entire learning process, has also raised concerns regarding pharmacy education and other fields in general.