Pharmacy Education in Vietnam

• Published in: American journal of pharmaceutical education Vol. 77; no. 6; p. 114
• Main Authors: Vo, Thi-Ha, Bedouch, Pierrick, Nguyen, Thi-Hoai, Nguyen, Thi-Lien-Huong, Hoang, Thi-Kim-Huyen, Calop, Jean, Allenet, Benoît
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 12-08-2013; American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy; Elsevier Limited; American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
• Subjects: Colleges & universities; Curriculum; Drug stores; Education, Pharmacy; Educational programs; Entrance examinations; Evaluation; High School Graduates; High School Students; Humans; Medical education; Pharmaceutical Education; Pharmacists; Pharmacy; pharmacy education; pharmacy practice; Schools, Pharmacy; Special; Students, Pharmacy; Study and teaching; Teaching; Vietnam; Vietnam; Vietnam; pharmacy practice; pharmacy education
• ISSN: 0002-9459; 1553-6467
• DOI: 10.5688/ajpe776114

Pharmacy education programs in Vietnam are complex and offer various career pathways. All include theory and laboratory modules in general, foundation, and pharmaceutical knowledge; placements in health facilities; and a final examination. The various pharmacy degree programs allow specialization in 1 or more of 5 main fields: (1) drug management and supply, (2) drug development and production, (3) pharmacology and clinical pharmacy, (4) traditional medicine and pharmacognosy, and (5) drug quality control, which are offered as main specialization options during the reformed undergraduate and postgraduate programs. However, pharmacy education in Vietnam in general remains product oriented and clinical pharmacy training has not received adequate attention. Only students who have obtained the bachelor of pharmacy degree, which requires a minimum of 5 years of study, are considered as fully qualified pharmacists. In contrast, an elementary diploma in pharmacy awarded after 1 year of pharmacy study permits entry into more junior pharmacy positions. Since the 2000s, there has been a surge in the number and types of schools offering pharmacy qualifications at various levels.