Pharmacy Education in Iraq

Abstract

To the Editor. We appreciated the letter entitled “Pharmacy Education and Practice in 13 Middle Eastern Countries.”1 The letter provided some information regarding pharmacy education in Iraq. Information was obtained by reviewing the available published literature and individual university Web sites, as well as contacting program or country representatives. In 2008, Iraq had 7 public schools of pharmacy, but no private schools of pharmacy. The bachelor's degree remains the first professional degree required to enter pharmacy practice. All schools offer bachelor's degree programs and some offer the master’s degree, but no colleges or schools in Iraq offer the PhD degree in pharmaceutical science. Pharmacy schools in Iraq have both male and female students, but there are more female than male students enrolled.1 In this letter, we would like to correct, clarify, and update some important information related to pharmacy education in Iraq. Iraq has 13 public colleges of pharmacy, 9 of which were established in different Iraqi universities before 2008, as follows: Baghdad University in 19362; Mosul University in 19643; Basrah University in 19994; Kufa University in 19995; Mustansiriyah Universityin 20006; Tikrit University in 20027; Sulaimani University in 20048; Kerbala University in 20069; Hawler Medical University in 200610; Duhok University in 200911; Babylon University in 201012; Anbar University in 201113; and Thiqar University in 2012.14 In addition, Iraq has 4 private colleges of pharmacy. Two private colleges were established before 2008 and 2 otherd were established after 2008, as follows: Baghdad Pharmacy College established in 2000 by the Iraqi pharmacists union,15 Al-Yarmouk University College in 2006,16 Al-Rasheed University College in 2010,17 and Al-Rafedin University College in 2011.18 All colleges of pharmacy offered bachelor's degree programs, while 3 public colleges of pharmacy offered MSc degree program. In addition, the PhD program was offered in 1 public college of pharmacy. In 1972, Baghdad University offered MSc degree program in 4 areas of pharmaceutical sciences, while the PhD program was offered in 1975 in pharmaceutical chemistry.2 Mosul University and Mustansiriyah University offered MSc program in 1993 and 2011, respectively.3,6 From 1936 to 1994, there was a higher proportion of female students than male students, while from 1994 to 2004, there was a higher proportion of male students than female students due to some regulations related to competition between male and female students. Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Iraq canceled these competition rules in 2004. Now, the percentage of female students in Iraqi colleges of pharmacy is higher than the percentage of male students.19