Abstract
The current state of pharmacy education in Bangladesh and identification of the current gaps in terms of manpower development for the pharmaceutical sector are described in this paper.
Information for the preparation of this paper was obtained from documents and interviews of stakeholders drawn from regulatory, industrial and educational agencies. Three levels of pharmacy education is currently offered in Bangladesh leading to either a university degree, a diploma or a certificate. Graduates with degrees work in industry while those with diplomas work in hospitals. Thus, hospitals are not benefiting from the training of pharmacy graduates just like community pharmacies that employ those with certificates. This situation is encouraged by lack of prescribed minimum standards required for the training of practitioners and practice of pharmacy in Bangladesh. Conflict of regulatory roles in the training of those with diplomas does exist. The state of pharmacy education in Bangladesh is less than satisfactory. A proper regulatory framework that ensures quality training of pharmaceutical manpower is lacking. Community and hospital pharmacies, therefore, have an unmet need in terms of the skill of the staff that operates them. The situation is further encouraged by the absence of minimum standards requirements for pharmacy practice.