Partnership Scheme for Primary Care Pharmacy Trainee Program
Overview
The development of primary healthcare system is essential to relieve the pressure on the public hospital and efficiently support the health of the ageing Hong Kong population. In 2022, the Primary Healthcare Blueprint (The Blueprint) has set out the Government’s strategic roadmap for developing a community-based primary healthcare system, strengthening the governance, reinforcing manpower, and improving information connectivity in the primary healthcare system. Meanwhile, The Blueprint has defined a new landscape of community pharmacy services and expectations from the pharmacist workforce. To support the sustainable development of community pharmacy services in Hong Kong, HKU Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy puts emphasis on capacity building and nurturing next generation of primary care pharmacy workforce so that more pharmacists or pharmacist-to-be could embrace their expanding role in the primary healthcare system. The Partnership Scheme for Primary Care Pharmacy Trainee Program (Partnership Scheme) aims to develop fruitful on-site learning environments and a comprehensive primary care pharmacy trainee program. With the collaborative network of primary care pharmacy, HKU is coordinating with NGO-run pharmacies to arrange various on-site experiential learning opportunities and support their primary care pharmacy training program with different resources. The partnership scheme is coordinated among the HKU Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, placement organizations and the participating pharmacy trainees.
Role of HKU Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy
in the Partnership Schemes
While NGO partners are initiating various kinds of primary care pharmacy trainee programs, HKU Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy fully supports the NGOs to implement the training in the primary care pharmacy field.
In the Partnership Scheme, HKU Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy will :
- Promote the primary care pharmacy trainee programs of participating NGOs in our platform
- Provide the placement organizations with resources and references in designing and delivering primary care pharmacy trainee program
- Support the placement organizations on the implementation of a systematic primary care pharmacy training program
- Foster the development of fruitful learning environment at placement organization for pharmacy trainees
- Coordinate with the on-site supervisor and advise on the training orientations and assignments for pharmacy trainees
- Organize activities (e.g. workshops, co-learning sessions) that allow knowledge dissemination and exchange among all pharmacy staff and pharmacy trainees of the placement organizations
- Facilitate the development of primary care pharmacy networking opportunity among pharmacists and pharmacy trainees
Placement Organization
Requirement of Placement:
- The placement organizations are NGOs with community pharmacy
- The placement location should be a community pharmacy and other relevant workplace
- The primary care pharmacy trainee program should last for at least 3 – 4 weeks
| Roles of Placement Organization | Roles of Preceptor |
|---|---|
| – Assume responsibility for the entire self-initiated primary care pharmacy trainee program such as recruitment process, work arrangement and trainees’ evaluation – Provide primary care pharmacy training sites – Assign pharmacists as preceptors whom the trainees directly report to. The pharmacists will provide on-site guidance, supervision and assessment of the trainees’ performance – Provide a suitable and safe working environment with necessary resources and facilities to trainees for assigned tasks and duties | – Support the trainees during onboarding phase by introducing the workplace environment, vision and mission, operations and services of the organization – Facilitate the trainees’ participation in primary healthcare initiatives – Provide timely feedback and guidance to support trainees to fulfil their learning objectives and personal goals. |
Support from HKU Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy to the Placement Organizations
By joining the Partnership Scheme, HKU Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy will provide the NGOs with the following supports:
- Provide NGO with template of the descriptions for primary care pharmacy trainee program
- Provide reference of pharmacy trainee manual and handbook
- Provide pharmacy trainee with orientation on the overview of primary care pharmacy development
- Coordinate end-of-placement assignment for pharmacy trainee and provide supervision
- Coordinate end-of-placement presentation for knowledge exchange (e.g. constructing theme, logistic arrangement etc)
- Provide framework for evaluation of pharmacy trainee performance
Q. As a potential placement organization, how do I join the Partnership Scheme for Primary Care Pharmacy Trainee Program?
Organizations interested in the Partnership Scheme are welcome to apply via the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/GiJ183mWBA
Primary Care Pharmacy Trainee Program
Learning Objectives
The placement organizations deliver a primary care pharmacy training program with support and resources from HKU Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, and trainees will be able:
- To practise person-centred pharmaceutical care such as client interviews, hands-on counselling and other relevant activities under supervision of pharmacists or other service providers
- To engage the public through educational activities or community initiatives
- To support and contribute to the development of clinical service standards in community pharmacy
- To co-create resources that are beneficial to the implementation of primary care pharmacy services
- To gain exposure to the latest development in the primary healthcare system and the professional network
Placement organizations have their unique pharmacy service features and hence the roles and responsibilities of pharmacy trainees vary between different placement organizations. Placement organizations might design and review their own training program.
Q. Who can join the Primary Care Pharmacy Trainee Program?
Year 1 to Year 4 Pharmacy students is welcome to apply for the primary care pharmacy trainee programs from different placement organizations.
Q. As a pharmacy undergraduate, how do I enroll in the Primary Care Pharmacy Trainee Program?
This platform serves as a place for our participating partners to promote their corresponding primary care pharmacy trainee programs. For details of enrollment and placement arrangement, please refer to the respective placement organizations.
Opportunity
(Last Update on 10/4/2024)
Remarks
Students’ applications and logistics for these placement opportunities solely depend on individual organizations’ arrangement. HKU Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy bears no responsibility for the recruitment and relevant process.
There are co-learning activities and experience exchange workshops with colleagues from different placement organizations including pharmacists, pharmacy trainees and supporting staff