An introductory course to facilitate the implementation of a clinical pharmacy programme in Iraq

An introductory course in clinical pharmacy is discussed which is designed to implement the basic concepts of clinical pharmacy as well as assist in the stepwise transition from a pharmacy school, with primary emphasis on dispensing, to a more clinically (patient) oriented pharmacy programme. The course is composed of a 2-h didactic session and a 3-h observation session per week for 3 months followed by daily 3-h practical clerkships for 4 months in the following areas: in-patient and out-patient hospital pharmacy, clinical laboratory, internal medicine, paediatrics, surgery, and retail pharmacy. Weekly 2-hour discussion sessions at the college or site of the clerkship are scheduled to review these experiences and introduce additional topics such as patients rights, pharmacist-patient relations, and pharmacy relations with other health professionals. This course promotes the development of a clinically oriented attitude in students and staff members in the college, and decreases the trauma of direct change from a product-oriented to a more patient-oriented curriculum.