Higher pharmaceutical education in China has developed for more than 100 years. More and more talented pharmacy professionals are required due to the rapid development of pharmaceutical industry and patients＇ needs, leading to many challenges for the current higher pharmaceutical education system. This paper provided a retrospective review of the evolution of higher pharmaceutical education in China, which described its current status and future prospects of higher pharmaceutical education in China, and offered some suggestions on these challenges.
Based on the competency model building theory, a literature review, a behavioral event interview and statistical analysis were used in this study to build a competency model for pharmacists in China. The competency model framework for pharmacists included five dimensions of characteristics, consisting of 25 competency elements of pharmacists, such as the general competency elements that all pharmacists should possess and outstanding competency elements that community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists should possess. This newly constructed competency model for pharmacists helped develop and cultivate the abilities of future Chinese pharmacists.
