If you are considering a professional diploma starting in 2025 we are holding both online and on-campus open events for you to discover more about our programmes. Find out more.
Programme Overview
Pharmaceutical systems are essential to health systems in countries across the world, regardless of income status. They are designed to provide access to medicines, encourage their rational use, and assure their quality, safety, and efficacy. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted both the complexities and vulnerabilities of these systems and highlighted the importance of making pharmaceutical systems more resilient. This 10-month part-time Professional Diploma will equip you with a comprehensive overview of pharmaceutical systems and the development of relevant analytical, operational, and applied professional skills.
The Professional Diploma Pharmaceutical Systems will equip both new and experienced professionals with the knowledge, skills, and competencies in pharmaceutical systems to analyse, synthesise, evaluate, and apply programme content in their day-to-day work. Through interactive online study and access to LSTM’s library resources, you will learn together with peers from across the globe while building your professional network and potential for career development.
You will explore the core concepts, principles, and practices that underpin the effective delivery of medicines to populations in need. You will engage in critical discussions, participate in real-world case studies and collaborate with our distinguished faculty and experts.
Learning on modules includes:
Module 1 – Pharmaceutical systems and access
- Introduction to pharmaceutical systems
- Introduction to access to medicines
- Regulatory systems
- Introduction to quality of medicines (developed with the support of QUAMED)
- Affordability
Module 2 – Pharmaceutical supply cycle
- Pharmaceutical supply systems
- Selection of medicines
- Procurement
- Storage: quality control (developed with the support of QUAMED)
- Pharmacovigilance
Module 3 – Pharmaceutical strengthening systems
- Introduction
- Understanding the context
- Approaches to systems strengthening
- Designing and implementing a systems strengthening project
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
Embark on a transformative journey with us, enriching your professional toolkit with essential knowledge, skills, and competencies in pharmaceutical systems, empowering your career advancement.
Individual modules can also be studied on a standalone basis.
Assessments take place at the end of each module and are as follows:
Module 1
Policy brief of 2000-words based on a chosen case study. You will be able to choose between two case studies.
Module 2
2000-word essay on identifying and addressing a deficiency in a pharmaceutical supply system with a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
Module 3
2000-word essay to develop a pharmaceutical system strengthening project.
Introducing our Director of Studies – Rocio Villacorta Linaza
On this course you will benefit from networking opportunities with students from across the world and from the passion and expertise of our staff. I am the Programme Director, Rocio Villacorta Linaza and I am a qualified Pharmacist with an MSc in Humanitarian Programme Management from LSTM. As part of my MSc research project in 2006, I discovered the key role and impact that pharmaceutical systems play in delivering health services and this ignited my passion in the subject.
After completing my MSc, I worked with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Merlin Medical, Medical International and the Amsterdam Tropical Institute (KIT; travelling to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Mozambique, Zambia and South Sudan. In April 2019, I joined LSTM as a programme manager in pharmaceutical systems contributing to capacity-building in Liberia, Ghana, DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Nigeria and becoming a member of international working groups with Ministries of Health in various countries, NGOs, WHO and pharmaceutical companies. I bring a wealth of knowledge to support the programme as well as an interest and passion in education where I can share my experience.