Role of pharmacy education and pharmacy practice in developing pharmacists as researchers in China

OBJECTIVES: Summarize the educational training model for pharmacy in China and the research culture model for the pharmacy profession. METHODS: A review of the literature, combined with China's economic and health development context, provides a comprehensive analysis of pharmacy education, employment, and research in China. KEY FINDINGS: As China's economic capacity has grown rapidly, pharmacy education has transitioned from ensuring drug supply to delivering high-quality services for pharmaceutical enterprises, patients, and research. China's pharmacy education includes Pharmacy Academic Education, which spans from specialist qualifications to doctoral degrees, Pharmacy Experiential Training, and Pharmacy Continuing Professional Development. Pharmacists are primarily employed in community pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, testing laboratories, regulatory agencies, and educational institutions. Pharmacists possessing research capabilities and self-driven research motivation may freely undertake pharmacy research projects through pharmacy education. The research projects receive funding support from national research strategies, provincial and municipal governments, and professional associations. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacy education and research should extend throughout a pharmacist's entire career, ensuring they fulfill dual roles as both clinical practitioners and researchers.