DISCIPLINE OF SOCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PHARMACY (DSAP)

The field of Social and Administrative Pharmacy (SAP) has been fuelled by the increasing need to apply social science methods and approaches to matters related to pharmacy and health care. The field provides health policy makers and practitioners with valuable information regarding the value of new and existing medications, impact of health programmes, policy and insight of health consumer-practitioners relationships and utilisation.

The social and administrative pharmacy program is designed to prepare individuals for responsible, leadership positions in pharmacy education, research and/or management in academia, industry or public service. This includes possible careers in governmental agency, pharmaceutical firms, community pharmacies, universities, professional and international bodies and health insurance companies in the future. Along with the increasing importance of medicines in society, there are increasing complex interactions among government and non-governmental agencies, providers, consumers and policy-makers thus resulting in a critical need for persons with advanced training in social and administrative pharmacy. The society needs well trained health personnel in this area in order to promote a sustainable healthcare delivery.

In Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), the programme was established as an independent discipline in 2004. At the moment, the disciplines academic staff are actively engaged in teaching and research works. The discipline has strong linkages with The World Health Organisation (WHO), Health Action International (HAI), research Institutes, universities and health/pharmacy organisations locally and globally.

The Social and Administrative Pharmacy teaching and research programs are essential components of the school. Given the nature of the profession and its issues, social studies of pharmacy should become a subject both for systematic teaching and for research. Many outside organizations have reported that pharmacy students need more education and training in administrative and social sciences.