Diploma of Specialized Medical Studies (D.E.M.S) in Pharmacy

Ø The postgraduate pharmacy training program in Algeria aims to train highly qualified specialist pharmacists capable of meeting public health needs across various pharmaceutical fields.

Ø This specialized training, known as the “RESIDANAT”, spans four years and is sanctioned by the Diploma of Specialized Medical Studies (DEMS), allowing graduates to practice as specialist pharmacists.

Ø Specialized training in pharmacy is structured around three main domains:

Ø Pharmaceutical sciences, which include disciplines related to the use and development of medicines, such as pharmacology, clinical pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, toxicology, pharmaceutics, pharmacognosy, and therapeutic chemistry.

Ø Medical biology, which includes biochemistry, parasitology–mycology, microbiology, hematology, and immunology.

Ø Fundamental sciences, comprising botany, biophysics, and hydrobiology-bromatology.

Ø Resident training in these specialties is provided, for certain disciplines, within our own academic and hospital-university structures. For other specialties, detachment or inter-faculty collaborations may be necessary to ensure a high-quality academic and practical training that meets specialization standards.

Ø The curriculum includes in-depth theoretical instruction, extensive clinical or technical practice, and specialized internships, following a structured training program that involves:

Ø Lectures, seminars, and scientific conferences.

Ø Tutorials and guided scientific readings.

Ø Immersion in hospital services or university laboratories depending on the specialty (e.g., clinical pharmacy services, biology laboratories, industrial units for pharmaceutics, etc.).

Ø Hands-on training in real clinical or laboratory settings.

Ø Participation in clinical case discussions, hospital staff meetings, therapeutic validation sessions, etc.

Ø Rotations through various relevant services (e.g., central pharmacy, oncology pharmacy, hematology, microbiology, pharmacovigilance, etc.).

Ø Execution of complex pharmaceutical projects (e.g., pharmaceutical analysis, therapeutic monitoring, lab result validation, applied research, etc.).

Ø Optional: Writing and defending a residency thesis on a topic related to the chosen specialty.

Ø Resident evaluation is based on:

Ø Theoretical and practical exams at the end of each academic year. The first-year exam and the DEMS final exam are both ranking and certifying.

Ø Continuous assessment during clinical or technical placements.

Ø Validation of the residency thesis through a defense before an academic jury.