‘Action needed’ to boost pharmacy academics

The government must take action to tackle a growing shortage of pharmacy-trained academics, an authority has urged.

Hemant Patel, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), argued that pharmaceutical science is “critical” to the health of the country.

Efforts must be made to attract undergraduate students into science degrees, he continued.

“The RPSGB and Kings College, London, have published research that shows that in most schools of pharmacy the proportion of pharmacists as academics has been declining,” Mr Patel warned..

Responding to his comments, Professor Ijeoma F Uchegbu, the chair in pharmaceutical nanoscience at the University of London, stated that pharmacies will become increasingly important as Britons live longer and require greater care.

In related news, the RPSGB yesterday submitted its views to the government on the proposed responsible pharmacist regulations.

Among other suggestions, it urged that breaches of the regulations should not result in criminal prosecution.