Health Sciences

Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy

The Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy is a postgraduate programme that trains pharmacists to become specialist clinical pharmacists. The programme prepares graduates to provide pharmaceutical care, optimise drug therapy, and contribute to patient-centred care in Kenya and beyond.

Core areas of study include clinical pharmacokinetics, pharmacotherapy, pharmaceutical care, pharmacovigilance, drug information, evidence-based medicine, therapeutic drug monitoring, patient assessment, pharmacoeconomics, and research methods. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and extensive clinical practice in hospital and community settings.

The programme is offered by numerous universities across Kenya, with Moi University as a college. University of Nairobi offers MPharm Clinical Pharmacy through its Department of Pharmacy, with a three-year programme. Moi University also offers the programme through its School of Medicine. The programme aims to instil knowledge and skills that enhance the provision of pharmaceutical care at patient level.

Students develop competencies in patient assessment, pharmacotherapy optimisation, therapeutic drug monitoring, adverse drug reaction management, medication therapy management, drug information provision, pharmacovigilance, evidence-based practice, and clinical pharmacy research. The programme includes coursework, clinical rotations, examinations, and a research thesis.

The programme is delivered over three years with full-time and part-time study modes at University of Nairobi. The programme runs for a minimum of six semesters equivalent to three academic years, with a maximum of twelve semesters. The programme is designed for pharmacists seeking to specialise in clinical pharmacy and patient care.

Graduates pursue careers as clinical pharmacists, pharmacy consultants, drug information specialists, pharmacovigilance officers, pharmacy educators, and pharmaceutical care coordinators in hospitals, pharmacies, regulatory bodies, and academic institutions.

Skills Required

Patient Assessment and Medication Review
Pharmacotherapy Optimisation
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Adverse Drug Reaction Management
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Drug Information and Evidence-Based Practice
Pharmaceutical Care Planning
Clinical Pharmacokinetics Application
Pharmacoeconomics and Drug Budget Management
Clinical Pharmacy Research and Scholarship

Key Subjects

Clinical Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacotherapy
Pharmaceutical Care
Pharmacovigilance
Drug Information and Evidence-Based Medicine
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Patient Assessment
Pharmacoeconomics
Medication Therapy Management
Clinical Pharmacy Research Methods

Certifications

PPB Specialist Registration in Clinical Pharmacy
FIP Clinical Pharmacy Certification

Specializations

Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy

Focuses on providing clinical pharmacy services in hospital wards, managing inpatient pharmacotherapy, attending ward rounds, and optimising drug therapy for hospitalised patients.

Ambulatory Care Pharmacy

Examines clinical pharmacy in outpatient settings, managing chronic diseases, providing medication therapy management, and running pharmacist-led clinics.

Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety

Covers pharmacovigilance, monitoring adverse drug reactions, reporting systems, drug safety assessment, and managing medication safety programmes.

Infectious Diseases Pharmacy

Focuses on infectious disease pharmacotherapy, antimicrobial stewardship, HIV/AIDS management, tuberculosis treatment, and optimising antimicrobial therapy.

Critical Care Pharmacy

Examines clinical pharmacy in critical care settings, managing pharmacotherapy in ICU, emergency drug management, and optimising drug therapy for critically ill patients.

Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes

Covers pharmacoeconomics, drug cost analysis, health outcomes research, medication formulary management, and evaluating cost-effectiveness of drug therapy.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 359,000
Job market: Very high

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Clinical Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacotherapy
Pharmaceutical Care
Pharmacovigilance
Drug Information and Evidence-Based Medicine
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Patient Assessment
Pharmacoeconomics
Medication Therapy Management
Clinical Pharmacy Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Examines clinical pharmacokinetics, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, therapeutic drug monitoring, and individualising drug dosing based on patient-specific factors.
Pharmacotherapy of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, heart failure, dyslipidaemia, asthma, COPD, and evidence-based drug therapy management for these conditions.
Pharmacotherapy of Infectious Diseases
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Examines antimicrobial pharmacotherapy, antibiotic selection, antimicrobial stewardship, HIV/AIDS management, tuberculosis treatment, and managing infectious diseases.
Pharmacotherapy of Endocrine and Gastrointestinal Disorders
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers pharmacotherapy of diabetes, thyroid disorders, peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and managing endocrine and gastrointestinal conditions.
Pharmaceutical Care and Patient Assessment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines pharmaceutical care principles, patient assessment, medication therapy management, identifying and resolving drug-related problems, and developing pharmaceutical care plans.
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers pharmacovigilance, monitoring adverse drug reactions, reporting systems, medication safety, drug safety assessment, and managing pharmacovigilance programmes.
Drug Information and Evidence-Based Medicine
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines drug information practice, searching literature databases, evaluating clinical evidence, critical appraisal, and applying evidence-based medicine in clinical pharmacy.
Pharmacoeconomics and Medication Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers pharmacoeconomics, drug cost analysis, health outcomes research, medication formulary management, and evaluating cost-effectiveness of drug therapy.
Clinical Pharmacy in Special Populations
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines clinical pharmacy in paediatrics, geriatrics, pregnancy, lactation, renal impairment, hepatic impairment, and adjusting pharmacotherapy for special populations.
Research Methods and Thesis
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a clinical pharmacy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and clinical pharmacy knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy
Focuses on providing clinical pharmacy services in hospital wards, managing inpatient pharmacotherapy, attending ward rounds, and optimising drug therapy for hospitalised patients.
Ambulatory Care Pharmacy
Examines clinical pharmacy in outpatient settings, managing chronic diseases, providing medication therapy management, and running pharmacist-led clinics.
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Covers pharmacovigilance, monitoring adverse drug reactions, reporting systems, drug safety assessment, and managing medication safety programmes.
Infectious Diseases Pharmacy
Focuses on infectious disease pharmacotherapy, antimicrobial stewardship, HIV/AIDS management, tuberculosis treatment, and optimising antimicrobial therapy.
Critical Care Pharmacy
Examines clinical pharmacy in critical care settings, managing pharmacotherapy in ICU, emergency drug management, and optimising drug therapy for critically ill patients.
Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes
Covers pharmacoeconomics, drug cost analysis, health outcomes research, medication formulary management, and evaluating cost-effectiveness of drug therapy.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MPharm Clinical Pharmacy programme begins with morning ward rounds where students accompany medical teams, reviewing patient medications, assessing drug therapy appropriateness, and identifying drug-related problems. Students participate in clinical discussions, recommending pharmacotherapy adjustments and monitoring plans. Drug information sessions involve answering drug information queries from healthcare providers, searching literature databases, and preparing evidence-based drug monographs. Pharmacotherapy lectures cover management of various disease states including cardiovascular, infectious, respiratory, and endocrine disorders. Pharmacokinetics sessions involve calculating drug dosing, interpreting drug levels, and adjusting therapy based on patient-specific factors. Pharmacovigilance sessions cover adverse drug reaction reporting and medication safety. Students rotate through various clinical areas including internal medicine, infectious diseases, critical care, paediatrics, and ambulatory care. Journal clubs review recent clinical pharmacy research and evidence-based medicine. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis. The programme at University of Nairobi is based at the Department of Pharmacy with Kenyatta National Hospital access. The three-year programme culminates in MPharm examinations and thesis defence.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya has a severe shortage of clinical pharmacists, creating very high demand in hospitals, regulatory bodies, and pharmaceutical industry.
Programme provides advanced clinical skills that significantly enhance patient care and rational drug use, making graduates highly valued healthcare team members.
Clinical pharmacists earn competitive salaries with structured career progression in hospitals, industry, and regulatory bodies.
Programme offers diverse career paths including inpatient care, ambulatory care, pharmacovigilance, critical care, and infectious diseases pharmacy.

Against it

Three-year programme duration is longer than some other master's programmes, requiring significant time commitment.
Programme requires a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree and pharmacy registration, limiting access to those with prior pharmacy training.
Clinical pharmacy roles in Kenya are still evolving, with some healthcare institutions not fully utilising clinical pharmacists' expertise.
Many listed universities may not have established MPharm Clinical Pharmacy programmes, limiting actual training options.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public187k to 359k

187k at Moi University359k at University of Nairobi

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 1.08M/3yr (kenyaeducationguide). Moi ~187K/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. FIP offers education grants for pharmacy trainees in developing countries. WHO provides pharmacy training grants for strengthening pharmaceutical systems. The programme's critical pharmacy shortage attracts health sector funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
FIP Education Grants
WHO Pharmacy Training Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate pharmacy studies at recognised universities.
FIP Education Grants
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
International Pharmaceutical Federation offers education grants for pharmacy trainees in developing countries pursuing clinical pharmacy specialisation.
WHO Pharmacy Training Grants
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
WHO provides pharmacy training grants for strengthening pharmaceutical systems and training pharmacists in developing countries.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is designed for pharmacists seeking to specialise in clinical pharmacy. Three-year programme with full-time and part-time study modes at University of Nairobi. Minimum six semesters (three academic years), maximum twelve semesters (six academic years). Admission is in September.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Clinical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Ongoing clinical assessment during rotations, evaluating patient assessment, pharmacotherapy recommendations, drug information skills, and professional conduct.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering pharmacotherapy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacovigilance, and clinical scenarios, conducted at end of each academic year.
OSCE and Clinical Examinations
Practical30% of the mark
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations assessing patient assessment, pharmacotherapy planning, drug information retrieval, and clinical reasoning in structured stations.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a clinical pharmacy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and clinical pharmacy knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya (PPB). University of Nairobi's MPharm Clinical Pharmacy is offered through its Department of Pharmacy. The programme meets CUE and PPB standards for postgraduate pharmacy training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi's MPharm Clinical Pharmacy is offered through its Department of Pharmacy.
Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya (PPB)
Professional accreditationRequired
PPB accredits and regulates pharmacy training and practice. Graduates must register with PPB to practise as specialist clinical pharmacists in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Clinical Pharmacist
Very high demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 600,000
Provides clinical pharmacy services in hospital wards, optimising pharmacotherapy, monitoring drug therapy, managing adverse reactions, and supporting medical teams.
Pharmacy Consultant
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 700,000
Provides specialist pharmacy consultation to healthcare institutions, advising on pharmacotherapy guidelines, formulary management, and medication safety.
Drug Information Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages drug information services, answering clinical queries, preparing evidence-based drug monographs, and supporting rational drug use.
Pharmacovigilance Officer
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages pharmacovigilance programmes, monitoring adverse drug reactions, ensuring medication safety, and reporting to regulatory bodies.
Pharmacy Educator
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 550,000
Teaches pharmacy in universities and training institutions, conducting pharmacy research, training students, and providing clinical pharmacy services.
Pharmaceutical Care Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 650,000
Coordinates pharmaceutical care services in healthcare institutions, managing medication therapy, developing care plans, and ensuring optimal patient outcomes.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as clinical pharmacists, pharmacy consultants, drug information specialists, and pharmacovigilance officers in hospitals and regulatory bodies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Micromedex Drug Information Database
SoftwarePrimary
Comprehensive drug information database providing evidence-based drug monographs, interaction checking, dosing recommendations, and toxicology information.
UpToDate Clinical Decision Support
SoftwarePrimary
Clinical decision support resource providing evidence-based recommendations for drug therapy, disease management, and patient care.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Analyzer
Equipment
Therapeutic drug monitoring analyzer for measuring drug concentrations in blood, enabling individualised dosing and pharmacokinetic monitoring.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for clinical pharmacy research, analysing drug therapy outcomes, and conducting pharmacoeconomic studies.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Clinical pharmacy is just about dispensing medications.
Clinical pharmacy involves patient assessment, pharmacotherapy optimisation, therapeutic drug monitoring, adverse drug reaction management, and direct patient care, far beyond dispensing.
Clinical pharmacists only work in hospitals.
Clinical pharmacists work in diverse settings including hospitals, community pharmacies, regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical industry, academia, and research institutions.
A Bachelor of Pharmacy is sufficient for clinical practice.
While BPharm provides foundation, MPharm Clinical Pharmacy provides advanced clinical skills, patient assessment competencies, and specialised knowledge essential for optimal patient care.
Clinical pharmacy is becoming less relevant with automated systems.
Automated systems handle dispensing, but clinical pharmacists remain essential for complex pharmacotherapy decisions, patient counselling, and managing drug-related problems.
This programme is only for those wanting to work in pharmacies.
Graduates work in hospitals, regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical industry, academia, research, and international health organisations, not just in pharmacy settings.
Kenya does not need clinical pharmacists.
Kenya has a severe shortage of clinical pharmacists, with irrational drug use, medication errors, and inadequate pharmacovigilance creating strong demand for specialists.