PSU sets requirements for Ugandans studying pharmacy abroad
In a public notice signed by PSU secretary Dr Lutoti Stephen, the society said the measures are aimed at safeguarding standards in pharmacy education and practice and regulating the registration of pharmacy students.
PSU sets requirements for Ugandans studying pharmacy abroad
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The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) has tightened requirements for Ugandans pursuing Bachelor of Pharmacy degrees abroad, warning students to meet local training and registration standards before returning to practise.
The new guidelines apply to students already studying pharmacy outside Uganda, as well as those intending to enrol on foreign programmes.
In a public notice signed by PSU secretary Dr Lutoti Stephen, the society said the measures are aimed at safeguarding standards in pharmacy education and practice and regulating the registration of pharmacy students.
PSU warned students and their sponsors to comply with the requirements to avoid challenges when seeking recognition of their qualifications and registration to practise in Uganda.
Under the guidelines, students must meet Uganda's admission requirements for pharmacy training, including A-Level passes in Chemistry and Biology.
“PSU shall not support or recognise students who do not meet the Ugandan admission criteria,” the notice states.
“Degrees that do not lead to registration as a pharmacist in the country of training shall not be recognised by PSU,” the society said.
Students or their sponsors are required to submit the pre-pharmacy and Bachelor of Pharmacy curricula to PSU for review before beginning their studies.
Every student must also register with PSU upon admission through the society's Pharmacy Students Registration Portal.
Qualification assessment
After completing their studies, graduates must have their qualifications equated by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
If the assessment identifies missing or deficient course units, the graduate must undertake and pass the affected courses at an NCHE-recognised institution in Uganda before proceeding to internship.
They must subsequently sit the Post-Internship/Pre-Registration Examination before qualifying for membership and registration to practise pharmacy.
PSU urged students to comply with the requirements from the beginning of their training to avoid complications when seeking registration after graduation.
“Students are advised to strictly adhere to this guidance to avoid future inconveniences,” the notice said.
The move comes amid growing numbers of Ugandans seeking professional training abroad, although official statistics specifically showing the number of Ugandan students pursuing pharmacy outside the country are not readily available.
International education data indicate that thousands of Ugandans study abroad each year across different disciplines, with countries such as India, China, Kenya, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States among the destinations.
Professional regulatory bodies also routinely assess the qualifications of foreign-trained health professionals before they can proceed to local internship and registration.
However, sector-specific figures for foreign-trained pharmacy graduates returning to Uganda are not publicly aggregated into a single official annual total.