Evidence-Based Complementary Medicines course begins in 2018
Pharmacists will have the opportunity to complete an evidence-based Graduate Certificate of Complementary Medicines in 2018.
The University of Sydney’s Faculty of Pharmacy is offering a Graduate Certificate in Evidence-Based Complementary Medicines to commence in the first semester in 2018.
The course, which was developed for pharmacists, will provide the highest level of education with respect to complementary medicines for pharmacy practice. Pharmacists will acquire relevant skills and knowledge to research and keep abreast of developments in the evidence base with respect to the efficacy and safety of complementary medicines.
“The National Medicines Policy aims to ensure the quality use of all medicines, including complementary medicines. The prevalent use of complementary medicines by the Australian population has remained consistently high over the last two decades," said Course Coordinator Dr Joanna Harnett.
There is an increased demand by the professional bodies for pharmacists to provide information that guides the appropriate and safe use of these medicines.
The Graduate Certificate in Evidence-Based Complementary Medicines will provide practising pharmacists with the ability to appropriately advise and counsel consumers about complementary medicines, their efficacy, and safety, including interactions with other medicines.
“The Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney is very pleased to be able to offer this qualification to the pharmacy profession from 2018, said the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Professor Iqbal Ramzan.
“An estimated 53 per cent of complementary medicines products purchased in Australia are purchased from pharmacies. Consumers trust and expect pharmacists to be able to provide evidence-based advice on complementary medicines, however we have consistently received feedback from our alumni and members of the profession that they would like further training in complementary medicines,” he added.
The Faculty of Pharmacy has already responded to this need with the recent integration of evidence-based complementary medicine education into the Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Pharmacy curricula.
The Graduate Certificate in Evidence-Based Complementary Medicines will be largely delivered online and will include a capstone project. The course can be completed part-time over one year. Applications are now open and will close on 31 January 2018.