The training is intended to equip students with the essential theoretical and practical knowledge and skills required for employment as a hospital pharmacist, as referred to in the Ministerial Decree of 22 October 2012 (Belgian Monitor of 03/12/2012) setting the criteria to be met in order to qualify for the position of hospital pharmacist. The areas of expertise are wide and varied, and this diversity is reflected in the training programme.
By way of example, the term “medications” is used in the broadest sense. Among other interpretations, the term "medications" refers to: proprietary medicine, compounding, common pharmaceutical products, antiseptics and disinfectants, registered health foods, implantable medical devices, products undergoing clinical trials and samples intended for use on hospitalised patients. The training also allows the acquisition of special and cross-disciplinary skills, which are essential.
On successful completion of this programme, each student is able to :
The theory training covers five main areas (Ministerial decree of 20/12/2012).
1. Hospital organisation and management:
a) The hospital: Legislation and organisation of hospitals – Legislation of pharmacovigilance and materiovigilance - Management and quality of care
b) The hospital pharmacy: Legislation - General tasks - Specific tasks
2. Fighting and preventing infection:
a) Hospital hygiene; b) Microbiology; c) Sterilisation and disinfection; d) Antibiotherapy and antibioprophylaxy; e) Vaccines
3. Pharmacotherapy:
a) Physiopathology; b) Pharmacotherapy and pharmacokinetics; c) Clinical trials d) Clinical pharmacy
4. Hospital technology
a) Pharmaceutical preparations in hospitals; b) Enteral and parenteral food products c) Medical devices; d) Advanced therapy medications
5. Radiopharmacy
The practical training (work placements) covers the following modules (Ministerial decree of 20/12/2012):
Part 1
a) Organisation and management of hospital pharmacy; organisation and management of medication distribution, including command of the processes, management of medication quality and information
b) Clinical trials
Part 2:
a) Fighting infections, including hospital hygiene and central sterilisation
b) Management of antibiotherapy and antibioprophylaxy
c) Organisation and management of the medical device circuit, including the activities falling within the remit of the Medical Equipment Committee
Part 3:
a) Clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical care
b) Activities falling within the remit of the Medico-Pharmaceutical Committee
Part 4:
Preparation and division activities, best preparation practices and quality assurance:
a) Oncological preparations and high-risk products
b) Other preparations, including pharmaceutical preparations and sterile preparations
c) Radiopharmacy
- The general duties include the dispensing, preparation, supply, preservation, analysis and quality control of medications
- There are four types of specific duty: (1) clinical activities, in direct contact with patients and members of healthcare teams (these activities include, among others, clinical pharmacy activities); (2) collaboration with the Medical Council, the Nursing Council and the Ethics Committee; (3) active participation on the Hospital Hygiene Committee, the Medico-Pharmaceutical Committee and the Medical Equipment and Implantable Medical Devices Committee; (4) Quality control of day-to-day central sterilisation
- The administrative duties relate to staff management, the preparation and monitoring of budgets, billing the Social Security Department and patients for medications.