Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana seeks clarification on ‘Dr’ title by holders of the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) writes to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to clarify the use of the title ‘Dr’ by holders of the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (PHARMD).

Below is the full release from PSGH

CLARIFICATION ON THE USE OF THE TITLE ‘DR’BY HOLDERS OF THE DOCTOR OF PHARMACY (PHARMD) DEGREE

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has come across a Public Notice dated 8th August, 2025 on the use of “Dr” as a prefix to names. We commend the efforts by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to maintain clarity, consistency, and quality assurance in academic and professional titles within Ghana’s tertiary education system. We wish, however, to respectfully seek clarification and place on record the following regarding the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree:

1. GTEC Approval and Accreditation: The PharmD program was developed through extensive consultation among the Pharmacy Council of Ghana, the Ministry of Health, universities, and other stakeholders. It was reviewed, approved, and accredited by then National Council for Tertiary Education now Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to be run by universities in Ghana, including Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Ghana, and University of Health and Allied Sciences and all the other schools of Pharmacy in the country as the minimum requirement to become a pharmacist in Ghana.

2. Nature of the PharmD Degree: The PharmD is a professional doctoral degree, not a combined Bachelor’s and Master’s program. It aligns with international pharmacy education standards in the United States, Canada, and other jurisdictions, where the PharmD is the recognized entry-level qualification for professional pharmacy practice. The program spans a minimum of six (6) years and includes rigorous academic, clinical, and experiential components.

3. Global and Local Recognition of the Title “Dr”: Internationally, holders of the PharmD are accorded the courtesy title “Dr” in recognition of their level of professional training. In Ghana, graduates of the GTEC-approved PharmD program have been using the title in line with both international best practices and local professional tradition.

4. Alignment with Existing Precedents: In your Public Notice, GTEC recognizes the longstanding use of “Dr” by holders of the Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Dentistry (DD), and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). The PharmD, like these qualifications, is an undergraduate-entry professional doctorate and therefore falls within the same academic and professional category and tradition. Given the above, PSGH respectfully requests that GTEC explicitly confirm that holders of the PharmD degree, as approved and accredited by GTEC, are authorized to use the “Dr title, in alignment with global norms and consistent with the recognition given to holders of MD, DD, and DVM degrees.

We believe such clarity will not only guide the profession but also ensure that pharmacy graduates and practitioners are properly recognized for their professional training and contributions to healthcare delivery in Ghana. We look forward to your positive response and continued collaboration to uphold the standards and integrity of Ghana’s tertiary education system.

Yours faithfully, Pharm. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh PRESIDENT, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) on August 15, 2025, clarified

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh