Accreditation brings to four the number of MPharm programmes available to prospective students in Ireland
The University of Galway has completed the PSI accreditation process to establish a new Master’s degree in pharmacy (MPharm). The Council of the PSI, the pharmacy regulator’s governing board, said it was pleased to accredit the programme. The University will be able to enrol students to the new programme commencing this Autumn. This follows the Government announcement to expand healthcare places, including the creation of three new pharmacy programmes. The commencement of the Galway programme, operating under the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, brings to four the number of MPharm programmes in the State. The existing offerings, all accredited by the PSI, are provided already at Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The MPharm provides the qualification necessary for registration to practice as a pharmacist and is a five-year integrated programme that incorporates clinical and other experiential learning placements.
Expansion
Speaking about the new programme, PSI Registrar and Chief Officer, Joanne Kissane, said: “The PSI has been pleased to support the expansion of pharmacy programmes through our accreditation role since first proposed by Government through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in 2023. We are in a time of significant change and expansion for pharmacy services, with the expectation of increasing demands on our health services and for the provision of care by pharmacists and pharmacies. “[This] announcement supports work we have ongoing with the Department of Image: iStock.com Health and other stakeholders in relation to workforce planning for pharmacy. Overall, it’s an extremely positive development for pharmacy, and, in particular, for the West of Ireland. I congratulate all those involved in establishing this new programme at the University of Galway. “It is timely that there is greater educational capacity, and an increased number of pharmacy students being trained in Ireland. This is one element that will assist with ensuring we have a sustainable pharmacist workforce in the future to meet patient needs and the needs of the evolving healthcare system. “Our role as pharmacy regulator is to maintain and support patient safety and public trust in pharmacy. This includes accrediting and approving educational programmes for pharmacy and for setting the accreditation standards that must be met on an ongoing basis by the approved pharmacy programme providers. Our aim is to ensure that future pharmacists are equipped to meet their professional and clinical obligations, the needs of patients and the health system. The PSI looks forward to the valuable contribution that the new School in Galway, and its students, will bring.”
Milestone
Commenting on establishment of the new pharmacy programme, Prof Leo Quinlan, Head of the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Galway, said: “We are proud to have received accreditation for our new MPharm programme here at the University of Galway. This milestone reflects the dedication and hard work of our staff, partners, and supporters across the healthcare and academic sector. The introduction of this programme marks a significant step forward for pharmacy education in the West of Ireland, expanding access to pharmacy training and helping to build the future healthcare workforce. We look forward to welcoming our first students this autumn and to supporting their journey as future pharmacists committed to patient care and excellence in practice.” Following the accreditation of the Programme, the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill, said: “The accreditation of the new MPharm programme in University of Galway, increasing options for students who want to study pharmacy, is really welcome. This programme, the first in the West of Ireland, will enable us to grow our pharmacy workforce as we work to maximise the role that pharmacists play in our health service. “Thank you to the PSI for their work in the accreditation of this programme, and I wish all the staff and especially the incoming class of students the very best of luck. The future of community pharmacy is bright, with real and meaningful opportunities for both our health service and programmes like this make that future even brighter.”
