Why USIU-Africa pharmacy graduates will keep thriving
Sponsored by USIU-Africa
By Evans Ongwae
USIU-Africa seeks to develop pharmacists who understand their responsibility to society within an evolving landscape that is expanding their scope of work.
The Dean, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at USIU-Africa, Prof Shital Maru, says the theme for this year’s World Pharmacists Day, “Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures,” resonates strongly with the mission of the USIU-Africa Bachelor of Pharmacy programme.
She explains that at USIU-Africa, they “recognise that the pharmacist of the future must be more than a medicines expert. Graduates must be equipped to become patient-centred healthcare professionals, innovators, leaders, researchers and advocates for healthier communities.”
Prof Maru adds: “Our approach is therefore to provide students with a strong foundation in pharmaceutical and clinical sciences while progressively developing their competencies in patient care, disease prevention, public health, research, communication, leadership, technology and interprofessional practice. This enables our graduates to respond to the changing health needs of individuals and populations in Kenya, Africa and globally.”
She points out that pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals. “Well-empowered, they can make a significant contribution to health education, disease prevention, rational use of medicines, chronic disease management and improved access to care.”
According to the dean, as healthcare becomes increasingly complex, there is a need for pharmacists and other health professionals with advanced expertise in areas such as clinical care, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medicines regulation, global health, supply-chain management, research and complementary medicine.
Prof Maru says it is critical to empower pharmacists with knowledge, competence, confidence, compassion, innovation and leadership.
She says the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme at USIU-Africa is structured to prepare graduates for evolving professional responsibilities. The curriculum integrates pharmaceutical sciences with pharmacy practice, clinical sciences, pharmacotherapy, public health and patient-centred care, thereby providing students with the knowledge, skills and professional competencies required for contemporary pharmacy practice.
Prof Maru points out that a key component of the programme is experiential and practice-based learning. Through clinical and community-based learning experiences, students have opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real healthcare settings.
The don asserts that these experiences develop competencies in patient communication and counselling, medication review, identification of medication-related problems, promotion of adherence, health education, disease prevention, referral and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
“Such training,” explains Prof Maru, “supports the transition from a product-oriented model of pharmacy practice to a patient-and population-centred model of care.”
The programme further incorporates competencies in public health, evidence-based practice, research, professional ethics, leadership, communication and inter-professional collaboration.
In addition, USIU-Africa's emphasis on innovation, entrepreneurship, technology and global health perspectives prepares graduates to respond to emerging models of healthcare delivery.
Prof Maru reports that USIU-Africa has a clear vision to expand and enrich its pharmacy and health sciences programmes in response to the rapidly changing healthcare landscape and the growing demand for highly specialised healthcare professionals.
The School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is developing a comprehensive portfolio of postgraduate and advanced professional programmes that will provide opportunities for graduates and other healthcare professionals to specialise and continuously advance their competencies.
These programmes will create a continuum of professional development, allowing graduates to progress from undergraduate education to specialised postgraduate training and, ultimately, advanced professional and research careers.
The USIU-Africa dean explains that the introduction of the Post-Baccalaureate PharmD, in particular, will strengthen the clinical orientation of pharmacy education and provide an opportunity for pharmacists to advance their competencies in patient-centred care and multidisciplinary healthcare practice.
According to Prof Maru, the expansion is not simply about increasing the number of programmes. “It is about ensuring that our academic portfolio remains relevant to emerging global health priorities and responsive to the needs of Africa and the wider world.”
She adds: “The introduction of the Post-Baccalaureate PharmD, in particular, will strengthen the clinical orientation of pharmacy education and provide an opportunity for pharmacists to advance their competencies in patient-centred care and multidisciplinary healthcare practice.”
USIU-Africa, she points out, is a centre of excellence for pharmacy and health sciences education in Africa, producing professionals who are equipped not only to respond to today's healthcare challenges but also to anticipate and shape the healthcare needs of tomorrow.
The university’s international orientation provides an additional advantage. USIU-Africa aims to develop programmes that meet local and regional needs while maintaining a global perspective and internationally relevant competencies.
What makes the USIU-Africa Bachelor of Pharmacy programme distinctive is the combination of strong scientific training, patient-centered practice, global orientation, innovation and leadership development.
As Prof Maru explains: “The USIU-Africa pharmacy graduate is a globally minded pharmacist with a strong foundation in science, a commitment to patient care, an understanding of community needs, and the confidence to lead and innovate.”
At USIU-Africa, they recognise that the pharmacist of the future will increasingly work alongside AI-enabled systems, digital health platforms and data-driven technologies.
“Our responsibility,” the don explains, “is, therefore, to prepare graduates who are not only comfortable using technology, but who understand how to use it responsibly, critically and ethically to improve patient care.”
She adds that the university’s patient-centred approach remains central. While AI can support analysis and decision-making, the human relationship between the pharmacist and the patient remains essential. Pharmacists bring empathy, communication, cultural understanding, professional judgement and an appreciation of the individual patient's circumstances—qualities that are fundamental to safe and compassionate healthcare.
The USIU-Africa School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences launched its pioneering Pharmacy programme in 2015 with 28 students who are currently serving as practicing pharmacists in various sectors of health. The School has graduated over 200 Pharmacy graduates over the past 11 years, and this year 90 students will graduate.
