Continuous Professional Development in Developing Countries: Pharmacists

The purpose of continuing professional development in health care is to help improve the safety and quality of care provided for patients and the public. As a healthcare professional, you are responsible for identifying your CPD needs, planning how those needs should be addressed, and undertaking CPD that will support your professional development and practice. Your CPD activities should aim to maintain and improve the standards of your own practice and also those of any teams in which you work. Pharmacy practice has changed during the last decades in developing countries toward pharmacist care and patient care, and the majority of pharmacy licensing bodies in developing countries asked pharmacists and pharmacy professionals’ evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) or continuing medical education (CME) for renewing their license This chapter covers the history of continuing professional development (CPD), its importance, and the facilitators, barriers, and recommendations for pharmacists in developing countries.