Pharmacy Daily | New CM university Grad Cert

THE University of Sydney's Faculty of Pharmacy has announced it 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," the university said.

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," said course coordinator Dr Joanna Harnett.

"The prevalent use of complementary medicines by the Australian population has remained consistently high over the last two decades, resulting in an increased demand by the professional bodies for pharmacists to provide information that guides the appropriate and safe use of these medicines," she added.

The aim of the course is to "provide practising pharmacists with the ability to appropriately advise and counsel consumers about complementary medicines, their efficacy, and safety, including interactions with other medicines."

Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Professor Iqbal Ramzan said, "An estimated 53% 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."

The Graduate Certificate will be largely delivered online, will include a capstone project and can be completed part-time over one year.

Queries can be made to Elliott Richardson at 0427 489 089 or elliott.richardson@sydney.edu.au.