February 2010

Announcement of new colleges of pharmacy

According to the promotion of the pharmaceutical industry as one of motive powers for our country's future growth, the government has been fostering research professionals who will be active in the field, and reviewed the adjustment of fixed number of students of colleges of pharmacy in consideration of a mid/long-term addition of pharmacists to the instant lack of pharmacists, resulted from no selection of new students of colleges of pharmacy in 2009 and 2010 according to the enforcement of the six-year pharmacy education system, and a change in policies for pharmacists.

But the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology alloted 20~25 students as an entrance quota for a total of 15 colleges of pharmacy on the 26th of last February, ignoring the addition policy and principle of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, and so resulted in controversy across the country.

Accordingly, the Korean Pharmaceutical Association demanded for withdrawal of the announcement of the establishment of new colleges of pharmacy and the size of fixed number of students of colleges of pharmacy, disregarding the government's principle of new allotment of fixed number of students of colleges of pharmacy.