Pharm.D

 

Pharmacy is a distinct profession and on it lies the success of any health program. With the rise of population world wide during the last few decades, it has been realized that the traditional medical and health services now play a limited role in the overall improvement of health status. This fact has driven all health professionals to the common goal of disease prevention and health promotion. In developed countries the clinical direction of Pharmacy has deemphasized the manipulative product oriented and distributive skills and focused more, on the public health awareness. Today, the pharmacists’ attention is directed towards the patient, his environment, and his state of general well-being. Pharmacy has achieved many successes in the past few years, it has undergone a transformation whereby both practice and teaching of the subject has been placed on more quantitative, rational and scientific bases, so much so that the Drug Oriented Pharmacy has now attired itself to Patient Oriented Pharmacy in most of the Western World.

In United States, the Pharmacy professional is highly patient oriented, they have much more opportunities in hospital and community environment. Same trend is being followed in Middle East market, whereas locally in Pakistan, 75% opportunities are in Industrial sector. Although in Pakistan, this sector is also now reaching a level of saturation, which will result in diversion to other branches like marketing, hospital and community. Accordingly we will have to prepare our graduates for the changing trends, especially if they aim to work globally. This has become possible by reviewing our Pharmacy syllabi and changing the same to meet the local and global needs and requirements.

The Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi after a long and thorough discussion as well as practical work, converted the curriculum proposed by PCP (based on annual examination system) into semester examination system. There are 200 credit hours spread over 5 years. The Faculty has also designed one year deficiency courses of 2 semester duration for those holding 4 years B.Pharm degree in order to upgrade to Pharm-D (5 years program) if they so desire. These courses have been approved by the Board of Studies of each department as well as by the Board of Faculty.

 

SYSTEM OF EXAMINATION AND GRADING

 

1. Terminal Examination

The examination held at the end of semester after the completion of a course shall be known as Terminal Examination. It will carry 100 marks. This examination is a passing head i.e., a student must for each course obtain a minimum of 50 marks in this examination.

2. Grading System

Grades given to a student in each course shall be of two types:

a. Numerical Grade (NG)

Assessment of performance on the basis of marks out of 100 fixed for a course of 3 or 4 credit hours unit is NG.

b. Alphabetical Grade (AG)

Equivalent of numerical grades in terms of alphabets shall be termed as alphabetical grades. (Each letter carries a value in terms of numerical points).

c. Grading

Marks

Grade

Grade Point

90 & above

A+

4.0

85-89

A

4.0

80-84

A-

3.8

75-79

B+

3.4

71-74

B

3.0

68-70

B-

2.8

64-67

C+

2.4

61.63

C

2.0

57-60

C-

1.8

53.56

D+

1.4

50-52

D

1.0

Below 50

Fails

0.0

d. Incomplete Grade

For incomplete courses no point shall be given.

e. Grade Point Ratio (GPR)

Points obtained in each course shall be multiplied by the number of Credit Hours specified for that course, and then a grade point ratio (GPR) shall be calculated. For example, the result of a 1st year student in a semester may be as follows:

i. Cumulative Grade Point Ratio (CGPR)

This is obtained by adding all the Grade Points of the courses during 5 years study period and dividing the total by the total number of credit hours.

3 Requirement for the Award of Pharm-D. Degree

a. A student must have passed all prescribed courses.

b. A student must have obtained a minimum CGPR 2.45

4. Rules Concerning the Promotion and Repetition of Course

A student would be promoted to next higher class upon clearing 80% of courses. In case of any misinterpretation and discrepancy Deans' Committee would be the final authority in deciding any representation.

(Approved by the Academic Council on 17-3-1999, vide Resolution No.1).

5. Attendance

Attendance in each subject is compulsory for all students and no student shall be eligible to appear at any University examination unless he has attended 75 per cent attendance in the course.

i. The attendance of students admitted in the Faculty will be counted from the 1st day of semester and not from the date of admission.

ii. Students called for national duty such as participation in Olympics, National Games, Inter-varsities, and going to perform Haj would be given exemption in attendance for the actual period of national duty/Haj. These cases would be decided individually.

iii. If a student is unable to attend classes continuously for 15 days or more without informing the Dean/Chairperson of the Department (in writing) his/her admission will also stand cancelled. In case of illness or other similar situation, application along with a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner duly verified by the Senior Medical Officer of the University must be submitted within two days after the incident.

iv. Original attendance register is to be submitted to the Dean/ Chairperson for record and future reference.

6. Maximum Duration for Completion of Degree

i. Degree enrollment of the Pharm-D. will remain valid for two more years after the expiry of the required duration for the completion of the Pharm-D. degree (i.e. 5 years).

ii. However a student unable to complete his/her degree requirement within the validity of his/her enrollment, will have to re-validate/extend his/her enrollment for not more than 2 years by paying a prescribed fee with the permission of Dean.

7. Cancellation of Admission/Readmission

i. If a student admitted in Pharm-D. 1st year class for the first time fails to attend the class for the first 15 days his/her admission shall stand cancelled.

ii. If a student absents himself/herself for 15 consecutive days during the semester without any information, his/her admission shall also be cancelled. Re-admission would be granted in the same semester by the Dean if he/she can complete his/her attendance requirement.

iii. If a student is unable to continue his/her studies during his/her studies, his/her admission will be treated as cancelled. He/she may however be re-admitted after the payment of prescribed fee in the same semester where he/she had left. Permission would be granted by Dean.

iv. He/she may be allowed 3 chances to pass/get promoted in the next higher class if he/she has completed the attendance requirements.

8. Unfair means

All the cases of unfairmeans will be forwarded to the Committee appointed for the purpose and the matter will be dealt with in accordance with the rules and regulationsof the University.

9. Interpretation of Semester Rules

The decision of the Deans' Committee would be final for the interpretation of semester rules. In case of any appeal Deans' Committee would dispose it off on its merits.