This morning we began our week with the Faculty of Pharmacy at Chiang Mai University. During our visit, we were welcomed by the faculty and given an overview of the University and their Pharmacy program. There are 19 pharmacy schools in Thailand and Chaing Mai University is among the top 3 universities in Thailand as well as the 2nd oldest Faculty of Pharmacy in the country. They explained how their pharmacy program is set up and it is similar to ours! They now have a 6 year degree as of 2008-2010 just like us, with the final year filled with experiential rotations. They then can go on to complete residencies or enter the work force after taking exams to obtain their licences. They also have to complete continuing education programs consisting of 100 credits every 5 years. Most even receive some type of training in the United States.
They then presented about the role of pharmacists in Thailand and how the health system is set up. The level of the healthcare center corresponds to the services offered and starts with primary health care units, increases to sub-district hospitals, district hospitals, provincial hospitals, and excellence centers (such as the Chiang Mai University hospital). Additionally, the explained the levels of healthcare coverage offered. Thailand operates under a universal coverage system, with social security and separate coverage for civil servants offered.
After lunch we visited the University hospital where we were shown around the inpatient pharmacy and the two outpatient pharmacies. They have 1200 beds spread across about 70 wards.
The inpatient pharmacy employs 9 pharmacists and 12 pharmacy assistants. Each physician order is filled and placed in the basket for the corresponding ward the patient is staying in. Nurses aids then pick up each basket and deliver the drugs to the wards. An initial physician order will provide three days of treatment, at which point the order will need to be renewed.
The two outpatient pharmacies are located on different floors, but one serves as a 24 hour pharmacy as well as dispensing inpatient medications after the inpatient pharmacy closes at midnight. The inpatient orders that come in after midnight are prioritized by indication, with heart attack and stroke medications taking priority. The outpatient pharmacies fill about 2500 total scripts a day and employ 25 pharmacists.
The two pictures below are of us with the pharmacists that showed us around and the hospital!
Thanks!
Tiffany
Tiffany
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