Pharmacy Education, Practice, and Research in Lebanon

Pharmacy education in Lebanon is a real mosaic with the diversity of programs, teaching languages, and affiliations of the different schools of pharmacy available added to one university hospital that offers a residency program (without delivering a pharmacy degree). Schools of pharmacy in Lebanon are accredited by different international instances, which denotes quality despite the absence of a national competency framework for pharmacy. While pharmacy specialties are not recognized nor mandatory for practice in corresponding pharmacy sectors, non-specialized licensed graduates are overwhelming the job market, and most of them are not encouraged to pursue post-graduate education. This oversupply is leading to competitive and sometimes unethical practices, particularly in the absence of national Good Pharmacy Practice guidelines. Add to this, the deteriorating financial situation of pharmacists who are unable to improve their services because of their low engagement in continuing education and research, and the high expectations of Lebanese patients.