Undergraduate Focus: Moulding students into pharmacists

KPJ International University College of Nursing and Health Sciences (KPJIUC) is a subsidiary of KPJ Healthcare Berhad. Focusing on the need of human capital in the healthcare industry, KPJIUC has produced more than 2,000 nurses and 600 healthcares professional with diploma, degree and postgraduate specialisations.

Besides being the pioneer in nursing, in 2007 KPJIUC obtained approval to conduct other allied health programmes including the Diploma in Pharmacy and will soon be offering Masters in Medical Specialist programmes such as Masters of Orthorhinolaryngology, Masters of Radiology, Masters of Orthopaedic and also Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS).

Diploma in Pharmacy: Future pharmacists at KPJIUC undergo university-level education to understand biochemical mechanisms of action of drugs, drug uses and therapeutic roles, side effects, potential interactions, and monitoring parameters. This is mated to education in anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology.

Professional interpretation and communication of this specialised knowledge to patients, physicians, and other health care providers are functions that pharmacists provide, and are central to the provision of safe and effective drug therapy.

This course aims to reinforce graduates in assuming the role of a pharmacist. It opens career opportunities in many fields of specialisation including:

Community pharmacy — most pharmacists are engaged in this type of professional practice in either independently owned or chain pharmacies.

Hospital pharmacy — this field offers a variety of assignments in support of physicians, nurses and other members of the healthcare team in dealing with the medication needs of patients.

Industrial pharmacy — opportunities include those related to production, quality control, research, administration and sales promotion. Included are also the medical service representatives needed to keep physicians, dentists and pharmacists informed of new developments. Other career options include home healthcare, long-term care, nuclear pharmacy, public health, law and various areas of pharmacy education and specialisation.

Course outline: The Diploma in Pharmacy is a three-year programme in which students spend six semesters in a comprehensive clinical environment developing both academic and professional skills at KPJIUC and its accredited hospitals. With high levels of responsibility from a strong team of experts comprising local and international medical consultants, senior nurses and pharmacist, allied health professionals and trained clinical instructors, the curriculum is designed to provide an educational foundation for the advancement into leadership within pharmaceutical studies.

Requirements: The requirement for the diploma is a minimum of five credits in SPM, preferably English, mathematics, Bahasa Malaysia, physics, biology and chemistry or one additional subject. International students should obtain a minimum IELTS score of 5.5.

As for financial aids, KPJIUC through the KPJ Group of Hospitals provides full sponsorships for eligible students with guaranteed employment upon graduation. Determined to cultivate talents in pharmacy, KPJIUC provides room and means for the graduates to grow. Graduates are given the choice to either directly further their education after their diploma or to gain working experience before undertaking a higher level of education.

For more information, visit www.kpjiuc.edu.my

Undergraduate Focus: Moulding students into pharmacists

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