[Recurrent education for pharmacists to support regional medicine]

New-generation pharmacists who graduate from the 6-year pharmacy education program will come into being in Japan in 2 years' time. The new program regards technical skills and caring attitudes suitable for healthcare professionals as important, as well as expert knowledge. Pharmacists are expected to become more involved in pharmacotherapy and patient care to overcome rural physician shortage and achieve better outcomes in pharmacotherapy. Pharmacists themselves also want to contribute to improve pharmacotherapy and patient care. Pharmacists educated with the former 4-year education program, however, hardly had a chance to learn clinical pharmacy or pharmaceutical care when they were pharmacy students. They have so far studied clinical knowledge, skills, and attitudes by themselves mostly after graduation. Therefore most pharmacists have not received systematic education or training about clinical pharmacy. Pharmacy schools employ pharmacists and physicians as professors, and built practical rooms for pre-clinical training to study pharmacy practice in recent years. We should use those human resources and laboratory equipment in pharmacy schools to facilitate recurrent education for pharmacists. Internet-based real time remote lecture is also useful for pharmacists working far from pharmacy schools to attend a recurrent class. I propose an education system in which pharmacists who completed the recurrent education program teach students pharmacy practice in their worksites, and both pharmacists and students are developing their practical skills to a high degree together.