Abstract :
In Libya, pharmacy education and practice have a similar pattern to medical education and practice. Both sectors of public and private pharmacy education and pharmacy practice still significantly unchanged for more than forty years. It is a traditional pharmacy style of education and practice with a limited change of education and practice. Now, there are more than ten public pharmacy colleges and more than five private colleges established in Libya for a population of seven millions. In addition, there are several intermediate pharmacy institutes which provide a middle degree in pharmacy practice with a very limited knowledge in pharmaceutical sciences and training. Practice of pharmacy in Libya is still a classical mode with only dispensing medicines directly in almost a nonprofessional way and an old fashion way. However, the situation is old and complicated that needs a great deal of attention from different health policymakers and authorities such as Ministry of High Education and Ministry of Health, National Pharmaceutical Union and Libyan Association for Pharmacists. Historically, before 1980, all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians graduated from abroad mainly Egypt, Italy, Greece and England. Pharmacists in public sector (Ministry of Health MoH, hospitals and clinics) and private sector (National Pharmaceutical Company, NPC, Pharmacy stores) were mostly non-Libyan and few were Libyan pharmacists who worked in administration places such as MoH and NPC. First University College was established in middle of 1970s in Tripoli based on five academic years schedule of teaching (1 + 4) with a capacity of students' entry (50 students) selected from different regions of Libya.
Keyword :
Education, Libya, pharmacy, practice, training