Pharmaceutical Medicine is the medical scientific discipline concerned with the discovery, development, evaluation, registration, monitoring and medical aspects of marketing of medicines for the benefit of patients and the health of the community. Pharmaceutical medicine has been recognised formally in the UK as a full specialty for physicians since 2002, but the roles of doctors in the research, development and maintenance of modern medicines has evolved over at least 50 years alongside the specialty itself. In the UK today, over 1200 pharmaceutical physicians work in pharmaceutical medicine. Developing new medicines and making them available for patients is an international endeavour, and pharmaceutical medicine is an international medical discipline, with growing recognition including formal listing as a specialty. Pharmaceutical physicians work within the strict pharmaceutical legal and regulatory framework, and additionally within ethical and professional codes of medical governance.
Careers in pharmaceutical medicine encompass three main groups of physicians: those working in pharmaceutical companies, those working in independent research organisations dedicated to the development of new medicines and those with appointments within medicines regulatory agencies.
Since 2002 between 150-200 physicians are undertaking specialty training at any one time. It is expected that this will continue and that the majority of physicians joining pharmaceutical medicine will undertake specialty training.
To enter specialty training a registered doctor must have completed four years of postgraduate clinical training in approved posts*, including achievement of Foundation competencies, and show evidence of experience of acute and continuing clinical management and care, including wide experience of prescribing and monitoring the effects of medicines. A doctor must show evidence of the capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement and ability to prioritise clinical need, working to maximise safety of patients whilst minimising the risk of harm. The doctor must be employed in a UK-based position in pharmaceutical medicine and hold Associate (Trainee) membership of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians.
*to enter the UK CCT programme these must be UK-based approved clinical training posts. Doctors with non-UK clinical training may enter the specialty by fulfilling the requirements of Article 14 of The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2003.)
The doctor may also demonstrate understanding of the importance and basic principles of scientific research, clinical research, evidence-based medical practice and basic research methodologies, and may have evidence of relevant academic and research achievements, for example, degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications and/or presentations.
Pharmaceutical medicine specialty training (PMST) is a workplace-centred competency-based programme (ST1-ST4). It encompasses seven fields of practice in pharmaceutical medicine: medicines regulation, human pharmacology, statistics & data management, clinical development, healthcare marketplace, drug safety surveillance and a generic module which includes interpersonal and management skills and the domains of Good Pharmaceutical Medical Practice. The acquisition of practical competencies is accompanied by the specialty knowledge base, and passing the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine examination.
Each pharmaceutical physician enrolled in PMST undertakes a personalised programme of training, involving acquisition of the specialty knowledge base and all of the practical competencies of the PMST curriculum, with a minimum of three practical modules including the generic module through in-work experience, coupled with course-based or other learning modalities for the remainder. Each programme covers an indicative 4-year period and flexible training provisions must meet the full-time equivalence of this. Registrars have a workplace-based Educational Supervisor and the programme is overseen by a Senior Specialty Adviser appointed by the Royal Colleges of Physicians. Acquisition of knowledge and competencies in the programme, and an evaluation of achievement and progress takes place within a framework of workplace- and course-based assessments, appraisal and regular review.
Completion of specialty training results in accreditation as a pharmaceutical physician, who is equipped with specialist knowledge and comprehensive competencies to practise pharmaceutical medicine to the highest ethical and professional standards, for the benefit and safety of patients and the public, in the development and maintenance of medicines.
For further information on Pharmaceutical Medicine Specialty Training, please contact the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (tel; +44 (0) 207 224 0343).
Competence Based Curricula and Assessment - StRs (for trainees who commenced training from 1 August 2007 to present)
There are two versions of curricula for this training period:
StRs who commenced training between 1st August 2007 and 3rd August 2010 will follow the 2007 version of their specialty curriculum and the 2007 Generic curriculum. Please see the 2007 Curriculum section of this webpage.
StRs who commenced training from 4th August 2010 onwards will use the 2010 version of their specialty curriculum. There is no need to follow the previously known ‘Generic curriculum' as this has now been embedded into the specialty curriculum. Please see the 2010 Curriculum section of this webpage.
The Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) is pleased to announce the 2010 Pharmaceutical Medicine curriculum which has been reviewed and rewritten to:
- meet the GMC's 6 new standards as detailed in their Standards for Curricula and Assessment systems
- keep up to date with medical advances and changes in the service and training
- incorporate the framework documents produced by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) detailing Common, Medical Leadership and Health Inequality competencies
- includes the new assessment methods (Teaching Observation).
This new curriculum has improved content, design and usability compared to its predecessors, and reflects a great deal of hard work and time expended by specialty curriculum groups. This curriculum will become the training manual for all trainees entering ST3 from 4th August 2010.
For further information on the 2010 curriculum it is recommended that you read the Quick Start Curriculum Guide.
If you have any queries or problems regarding the 2010 curriculum please email ptb@jrcptb.org.uk.
Core Training Programmes
Entry into Pharmaceutical Medicine training is possible following successful achievement of foundation competencies and 24 months clinical experience in a UK-based approved training post, for example:
Assessment
The following methods are used as part of the integrated assessment system:
The assessment blueprint, which is embedded in the clinical syllabus, shows the possible methods that can be used to assess each of the competencies in the curriculum. Trainees and trainers should refer to the blueprint for guidance on the appropriate assessment methods for each aspect of the curriculum, and so plan the training programme according to the criteria set by the ARCP Decision Aid. It is not expected that all competencies will be assessed by all methods, rather that there will be a sampling of competencies within a variety of settings, both within formal and workplace-based assessment, from which overall competence acquisition has to be determined.
The diagram below describes the training pathway:
Please view the 2010 curriculum for Pharmaceutical Medicine for full details on the training routes and selection criteria.
Entry into Pharmaceutical Medicine training is possible following successful completion of both a Foundation Programme and a core training programme.
Please view the 2007 curriculum for Pharmaceutical Medicine for full details on the training routes and selection criteria.
Assessment
The assessment blueprints show the possible methods that can be used to assess each of the competencies in the curriculum. Trainees and trainers should refer to the blueprints for guidance on the appropriate assessment methods for each aspect of the curriculum, and so plan the training programme according to the criteria set by the ARCP/RITA Decision Aid. It is not expected that all competencies will be assessed by all methods, rather that there will be a sampling of competencies within a variety of settings, both within formal and workplace-based assessment, from which overall competence acquisition has to be determined.
Further information on the various methods of assessment can be viewed in the Assessment section of this website.
The diagram below describes the training pathways in general terms.
Competence Based Curricula - SpR (for trainees who commenced training between 1 Jan 2003 and 31 July 2007)
The JCHMT introduced revised curricula for all the medical specialties together with a generic curriculum that applied to all trainees back in 2003. These are competence-based and set out the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be acquired by trainees before they may be awarded a CCT.
Curricula - SpR (for trainees who commenced training before 1 Jan 2003)
The curricula for trainees enrolling pre 01/01/03 are no longer available on the website but can be obtained by request to ptb@jrcptb.org.uk.