Health Minister lauds programme preparing future pharmacists for prescribing roles

Northern Ireland’s Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, has welcomed the launch of the 2024/25 Experiential Learning (EL) Programme, designed to equip future
pharmacists with the skills needed for a greater role in clinical care.

Starting in 2026, pharmacy undergraduate students will qualify as independent prescribers upon registration, and this programme is designed to prepare them for
that responsibility.

The EL Programme provides pharmacy students with multi-sector clinical work placements across the region.

Speaking at the programme’s launch at Ulster Hospital, Minister Nesbitt said: “This is the second year of this successful programme, which will see pharmacy
students in Northern Ireland benefit from the training by completing up to twelve weeks of practice-based learning in hospitals, community pharmacies and
general practices across NI.

“This will provide them with actual practice-based experiences in a range of healthcare settings, facilitating them to interact with patients and engage in
interprofessional practice.