Framework for Action to Implement Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice in Pharmacy and Allied health Sciences Programs in India

Abstract:

Background: Interprofessional education is a step towards providing higher quality patient care by producing collaborative and practice-ready health care professionals who appreciate each other’s roles in the health care settings. The objectives, learning outcomes and action plans to implement IPL in various phases is discussed in this paper. Methods: A literature review was done to write a concept paper to produce a framework for action to implement interprofessional education and collaborative practice in Pharmacy and allied health sciences programs in India. Results: The key information need as per this concept paper is; effective collaboration and communication skills are needed to make the healthcare team members such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and other allied health graduates to work both autonomously and collaboratively in complex and challenging clinical environments. Conclusion: The need for evidenced-based collaborative care that utilizes the expertise of various disciplines has been acknowledged worldwide. Therefore, it is important to create the opportunity for the various health professional students to understand interprofessional education and appreciate the roles played by different professionals. Interprofessional education provides a better understanding of the health care system and ultimately improves the quality of patient care.

Key words: Inter-professional education, Indian health care programs, Collaborative practice, Inter-professional learning, Pharmacy.