Tabs

Summary

Course details

Course type:

Professional Diploma

Director of studies:

Rocio Villacorta Linaza

Duration:

10 months, Part Time Online

Home fee:

£3,900

Overseas fee:

£3,900

Attachments

application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document

(DipPS) Diploma in Pharmaceutical Systems 2023.docx

3 good reasons to study

You will gain valuable knowledge and the confidence to drive meaningful change in pharmaceutical systems.

You will become part of a growing network of professionals who are making a tangible impact on global healthcare.

The programme will open up new opportunities for you to excel in your career and expand your horizons in pharmaceutical systems.

You can find out more at one of our online or in-person Open Events.

Register your place at one of our events here.

Programme Overview

Pharmaceutical systems play a crucial role in providing access to essential medicines, especially for those who need them the most. Within this programme we will empower you to build on your existing skills even further, making a lasting impact on the lives of those you work with.

In this 10-month online advanced programme, you will delve into the complex and passionate world of pharmaceutical systems. The programme focuses on enhancing the capabilities of global health professionals, covering aspects such as access to medicines, supply chain management and strengthening pharmaceutical systems.

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

- Quality of medicines (developed with the support of QUAMED)

- Acceptability (regulatory system)

Module 2 – Pharmaceutical supply cycle

- Pharmaceutical supply systems

- Selection

- Procurement

- Storage Warehouse Management/Distribution (developed with the support of QUAMED)

- Pharmacovigilance systems/ Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance

Module 3 – Strengthening systems

- Introduction

- Designing the plan

- Setting the objectives

- Building assessment tools

- 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.

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.

Online Learning

We use an asynchronous and synchronous learning model. Asynchronous e-learning involves recorded material, individual exercises, group work and online discussion boards delivered via a virtual learning environment (VLE).

Studying online is a first for many people. This programme will help you discover the skills required for online study and evaluate your own study skillset. You will experience online communities and understand how you benefit from flexible study arrangements, while still being supported by dedicated tutors. Studying online takes advantage of technology to simulate or improve traditional methods of teaching.

At the centre of your learning is Brightspace. Brightspace brings together learners, tutors and learning materials in a simple to use web-based learning management system designed to give you easy access to everything you need to complete your studies, while enabling you to interact with your fellow learners and become part of the wider LSTM community. Brightspace is mobile friendly and supports you even in low bandwidth settings.

LSTM also has other technologies available, enabling you to access video-based learning resources (Panopto), study on your tablet device even while offline (Binder) and work effectively online with your peers (Miro).

Each of these technologies has been designed to be user friendly and intuitive to use and you will have a dedicated team of staff to support you in their use. You will also have an Office 365 account and be able to download the latest version of Microsoft Office for the duration of your studies.

Entrance Requirements

Academic requirements:

Qualified health care professionals; including Pharmacists, Doctors, Nurses or health managers with proven experience of more than 1-2 years in the pharmacy field.

Work experience:

Pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and health professionals with a minimum 1-2 years of demonstrated experience in pharmacy, either within national health programmes or in a related area such as pharmacy, hospitals, health centres, senior management roles, or industry.

English language requirements:

The programme is taught in English. Students whose first language is not English must normally provide evidence of an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all learning components, or a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 88 for the Internet-based Test (iBT), with minimum scores of 21 for Listening and Writing, 22 for Reading and 23 for Speaking. Tests should be within their validity period of 2 years. Other English Language Tests and country specific English Language qualifications are also accepted - a full list with details of levels required can be found on the LSTM website (http://www.lstmed.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements). Applicants who have recently completed a degree level qualification taught in a majority English speaking country (as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may also be accepted at the discretion of the Director of Studies.

Aims

This course aims to:

Critically analyse the barriers and enablers to access to medicines including quality of medicines, regulatory environment, and affordability within different health systems.

Evaluate key areas of each phase within the pharmaceutical supply cycle across different contexts.

Assess the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in a pharmaceutical system.

Design a comprehensive pharmaceutical system strengthening plan (appropriate to a given health system/program).

Careers

Pharmaceutical systems are a cross cutting theme for health programmes and health systems. Graduates can be involved with strengthening local and national pharmaceutical systems, developing strategies and policies around access to pharmaceutical. There are several potential employers of professional diploma graduates e.g., local authorities, agencies of the United Nations, World Health Organisation, local Ministries of Health, Health Departments, international donors, aid organisations or non-governmental organisations and charities. Graduates can become consultants, educators, researchers, or managers.

Make an enquiry

a006M00001Z00RA

Submit your enquiries here

Programme Version Name
First Name *
Last Name *
Email *
Phone
Country *
Nature of Enquiry *
Subject
Description
How did you hear about LSTM?
Keep me informed about this course
Keep me informed about LSTM news

Apply

Start date	End date	Home fee	Overseas fee
2 September 2024	27 June 2025	£3,900	£3,900	Apply

Start date:
2 September 2024

End date:
27 June 2025

Home fee:
£3,900

Overseas fee:
£3,900

Apply

Diploma in Pharmaceutical Systems (ONLINE)