Technical Assistance for the Reform of Pharmaceutical Supply Management Curriculum at the Hanoi University of Pharmacy in Vietnam: SIAPS Technical Report

This reform effort was supported by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and the Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program provided technical assistance to facilitate this process. The SIAPS Program collaborated with HUP counterparts to review the existing curriculums, map PSM-related competencies expected from graduates, and develop a curriculum for both postgraduate and undergraduate levels. The curriculum development process involved defining the aim, learning objectives, topic areas, contact times, pedagogical techniques, and detailed content summaries for each module. The SIAPS Program also conducted a stakeholder consultation and review process to ensure that the new curriculum met the needs of the pharmaceutical industry and the healthcare sector in Vietnam. The technical assistance provided by the SIAPS Program included a technical visit to HUP in September 2012, during which a principal technical advisor and a consultant reviewed the existing curriculums and provided recommendations for reform. The SIAPS Program also developed a performance monitoring plan to track progress and ensure that the reform effort was on track to meet its objectives. The new curriculum for PSM was developed to include eight modules, each covering a specific aspect of pharmaceutical supply management. The modules included Introduction/Contextualization of PSM/Governance, Product Selection, Forecasting and Quantification, Procurement, Storage and Distribution, Inventory Management, Logistics Management Information System, and Rational Medicine Use. The curriculum also included a module on Quality Assurance, which covered topics such as quality control, quality assurance, and pharmacovigilance. The SIAPS Program worked closely with HUP to develop a detailed contents development methodology, which included a stakeholder consultation and review process. The methodology involved identifying the key competencies required for pharmaceutical supply management, developing a curriculum framework, and creating detailed content summaries for each module. The SIAPS Program also developed a sample of PowerPoint training materials to support the implementation of the new curriculum. The reform of the PSM curriculum at HUP is expected to improve the quality of pharmacy education and training in Vietnam, and enhance the skills and knowledge of pharmacy graduates in pharmaceutical supply management. The SIAPS Program's technical assistance has played a critical role in facilitating this reform effort, and the new curriculum is expected to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry and the healthcare sector in Vietnam.