Inclusion of Pharmacoeconomics course in the Undergraduate Pharmacy Education: A Global Trend Review

Objective: Although pharmacoeconomics was recognized as a sub-discipline of health economics for over 25 years, its diffusion into pharmacy education has been gradual. The purpose of this review was to describe the global trend of inclusion of pharmacoeconomics course in the undergraduate pharmacy education. Methods: Published literatures were searched and information on the inclusion of pharmacoeconomics course in the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum was collected and collated. Pub Med, Google Scholar, and Google databases were used for the search in October and December 2015. Both compulsory and elective pharmaco economic courses in the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum (BS, B. Pharm, Pharm.D) were considered. We have organized and summarized the information by countries and time period. Trends: Out of 13 surveys reviewed, 4 surveys from the US have provided the key baseline for documenting trends in inclusion of pharmacoeconomics course in the pharmacy curriculum. As per a 2011 survey, pharmacoeconomics course was included in almost all colleges/schools of pharmacy in the US. Other than surveys from the US, 6 were conducted or published in the last 3 years. Many of the surveys identified that the contents in pharmaco economic course vary to different extent. Information from many countries was not available, especially in Africa and Asia. Conclusion: The pharmacoeconomics course was very much part of the undergraduate pharmacy programs in the US. Even though the diffusion of pharmacoeconomics course to the rest of the world was slow; it has picked up the pace in this decade. Standardization of pharmacoeconomics education shall be necessary. Further surveys from countries other than the US are required to comprehend the implications of the trend.