The University of Cape Coast has formally ushered 121 fourth-year pharmacy students into the next phase of their professional training at the third White Coat Ceremony organised by the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Held under the theme, “Developing the Future Pharmacist: Competence and Integrity,” the ceremony marked the transition of the Level 400 students, known as Rx28, from classroom-based learning to clinical practice.
At the event, the students took the Oath of Pharmacy, pledging lifelong service to patient welfare, ethical conduct, confidentiality, and continuous professional growth. The 121 students were then robed in the white coat, a globally recognised symbol of professionalism in pharmacy practice.
Keynote speaker, Mawuli Atiemo, Country Manager of Ghana and West Africa Sales Lead at Cipla Limited, urged the student pharmacists to focus on solving real healthcare challenges rather than pursuing quick financial rewards.
“The money will come as a result of solving difficult problems,” he stated.
Dr. Atiemo stressed that integrity and competence must remain central to pharmacy practice, cautioning that professional integrity would continually be tested. He encouraged the students to uphold honesty, transparency, and accountability in all their work while prioritising the needs of patients.
He also urged the future pharmacists to equip themselves with knowledge in Artificial Intelligence and big data, noting that technological advancement is rapidly reshaping the pharmacy industry.
Chairing the ceremony, Acting Vice-Chancellor Denis Aheto commended the pioneer pharmacy class, Rx25, for achieving a 100 per cent pass rate in the Ghana Professional Examination.
According to him, the achievement demonstrated that pharmacy education at University of Cape Coast is in capable hands and would significantly benefit Ghana’s healthcare sector.
Prof. Aheto described the White Coat Ceremony as a critical rite of passage that instils the values of integrity, confidentiality, compassion, responsibility, and respect for human dignity.
He encouraged the students to make the most of their clinical placement to sharpen their professional skills and also advised them to consider combining pharmacy with business education through UCC’s MBA programme to broaden their career prospects.
Dean of the School, Ernest Obese, praised the support of stakeholders toward the training of the students and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to producing highly competent pharmacists for Ghana.
He charged the students to uphold honesty, compassion, diligence, and truthfulness as they begin their clinical training.
Other dignitaries, including Gideon Enoch Abbeyquaye, George Justice Arthur, and Robert Incoom, also advised the students to serve with integrity, professionalism, and empathy.
source: https://news.ucc.edu.gh/
