Exploring the evolution and impact of pharmaceutical education at Shupyk NMAPE on medication safety and quality assurance
When you pick up a prescription from your local pharmacy, you're witnessing the final step in a complex journey of quality assurance that begins long before those medications reach the shelf. Behind this everyday interaction lies a critical, often overlooked profession constantly evolving to ensure the medicines we rely on are safe, effective, and of the highest quality.
At the heart of this evolution in Ukraine stands the Shupyk National Medical Academy of Post-Graduate Education (NMAPE), an institution that has been quietly shaping the guardians of medication quality for decades.
The story of pharmaceutical education at Shupyk NMAPE is a journey through time, reflecting Ukraine's scientific evolution.
Department Establishment
Department of Quality Control and Standardization of Medicines was established with focus on basic standardization 1 .
Research Expansion
Expansion of research scope and methodology under Prof. Ya.A. Fialkov and N.P. Maksyutina 1 .
International Integration
Adaptation to post-Soviet educational standards and international integration led by O.M Gritsenko and N.O. Vetiutneva 1 .
Modernization
Modernization of curriculum and research initiatives under current department leadership 1 .
| Time Period | Key Developments | Notable Figures |
|---|---|---|
| 1938-1950s | Department establishment and early standardization work | Founding faculty members |
| 1960s-1980s | Expansion of research scope and methodology | Prof. Ya.A. Fialkov, N.P. Maksyutina |
| 1990s-2000s | Adaptation to post-Soviet educational standards and international integration | O.M Gritsenko, N.O. Vetiutneva |
| 2010-2018 | Modernization of curriculum and research initiatives | Current department leadership |
What does it take to train a modern pharmacist specializing in medicine quality? At Shupyk NMAPE, the answer lies in a comprehensive educational framework.
Core educational offerings focusing on critical areas like "Analytical Control Pharmacy" and "General Pharmacy" 1 .
Targeted preparation to ensure professionals meet the highest standards of competency 1 .
Addressing real-world challenges like quality assurance, prevention of medicine falsification, and quality systems in pharmacies 1 .
Bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary scientific standards for evidence-based herbal medicine 1 .
| Program Type | Target Audience | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Specialization Cycles | Pharmacists seeking specialization | Analytical Control Pharmacy, General Pharmacy |
| Pre-certification Training | Pharmacists preparing for certification | Current standards, emerging challenges |
| Thematic Improvement Cycles | Practicing pharmacy professionals | Quality assurance, anti-falsification measures, quality systems |
| Phytotherapy Cycles | Physicians and pharmacists | Scientific basis of herbal medicine and natural products |
The educational mission of Shupyk NMAPE rests on a robust foundation of scientific research.
Developing methods for investigating complex synthetic compounds and creating techniques for express analysis of extemporal multicomponent medicines 1 .
Exploring properties of crown compounds and investigating interactions between active ingredients and excipients 1 .
Developing quality assurance principles for medicines at stages of wholesale, retail sale, and medical use 1 .
"The department's research translates directly into improved practices across the pharmaceutical supply chain, ensuring that medicines maintain their quality from manufacturer to patient."
The work at Shupyk NMAPE takes place within a global landscape of pharmacy education and practice evolution.
A pharmacist-led quality improvement program in Malaysia demonstrates the global nature of medication safety research .
The study employed a prospective, quasi-experimental design comparing error rates before and after implementing a quality improvement program .
The outcomes demonstrated significant improvements in medication safety after implementing the quality improvement program.
| Metric | Pre-Intervention | Post-Intervention | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients with ≥1 medication error corrected by pharmacists | 77.6% | 95.9% | +18.3% |
| Patients with ≥1 clinically significant error | ~24.8% | ~24.8% | No significant change |
| Key contributing factors | Low pharmacist-patient ratio, discharge prescriptions after hours | Systemic process improvements | Enhanced safety |
Modern pharmacy research relies on sophisticated methodological frameworks that ensure rigorous, meaningful results.
Understanding intention behind behaviors to predict adoption of new practices 9 .
Identifying implementation barriers to address obstacles to change 9 .
Structured approach for developing, evaluating, and implementing complex interventions 9 .
Mapping capability, opportunity, motivation to determine likelihood of behavior change 9 .
| Framework/Theory | Application in Pharmacy Research | Key Utility |
|---|---|---|
| Theory of Planned Behaviour | Understanding intention behind behaviors | Predicts adoption of new practices |
| Theoretical Domains Framework | Identifying implementation barriers | Addresses obstacles to change |
| UK MRC Framework | Developing complex interventions | Provides structured research approach |
| COM-B Model | Mapping capability, opportunity, motivation | Determines likelihood of behavior change |
| Evidence-Based Pharmacy (EBPharm) | Informing therapeutic decisions | Grounds practice in best available evidence |
The work of institutions like Shupyk NMAPE has never been more critical as medications grow more complex and therapeutic regimens more sophisticated.
As the International Pharmaceutical Federation emphasizes in its World Pharmacists Day 2025 campaign, this simple phrase captures the essential truth that pharmacists are indispensable partners in healthcare 8 .
Through its eight decades of educational leadership, Shupyk NMAPE has played a vital role in preparing pharmacists for this responsibility, proving that when it comes to medication quality, education is the best medicine.
Pharmacists playing increasingly important roles in medication therapy management 6 .
Growing emphasis requiring ongoing professional development 4 .
Ensuring medications maintain quality from manufacturer to patient 1 .