Kazuharu Fukui (Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, 2nd year* at the time)

Looking back on this training, I was able to broaden my perspective through preliminary studies, focusing on Thailand's medical and educational systems. In Thailand, I had the opportunity to tour various facilities and interact with pioneering instructors and local students, gaining a great deal of experience and knowledge in a short period. I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this training program.

While there are many opportunities to learn about various systems in university classes, I had heard that pharmaceutical education in Thailand is very advanced globally, so I wanted to learn about the actual situation through this training. What was particularly impressive was hearing from students interning at the hospital about their approach to patient care and the importance of learning appropriate treatment through practice. I realized that even though there are differences in systems from country to country, the values and goals of pharmacists have common points across nations. On the other hand, in Thailand, I also had the opportunity to train with students from Kyushu University, which made me aware that there are various differences in pharmaceutical education even within Japan.

During the training, there was also a dinner with a professor who serves as the chairman of the Thai national pharmacist examination committee. I was able to directly hear various stories, such as how pharmacists work in Japan and the future of the separation of dispensing and prescribing in Thailand. While learning how Japanese pharmacists are viewed from abroad, I was also able to think about how I want to engage with patients as problems like a super-aging society and elderly-to-elderly care become more significant. While visiting various facilities in Thailand, I realized that in environments where medical facilities are not easily accessible, medicines for self-medication are indispensable to people's lives and bring hope. Through this training and other experiences, I decided I wanted to study more about the 'exit,' where drugs are delivered directly to patients, for my graduation research. Now, I am researching effective drug therapy using apps at the Division of Pharmaceutical Care Sciences, Center for Social Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care Sciences.

Before traveling, there was an opportunity to interact with pharmacy students from Khon Kaen University who were visiting Japan. I think a special feature of this program is that you can participate with peace of mind, as you get to know the atmosphere of the local students before you go. Since there are few opportunities to see medical sites in other countries firsthand as a student, I feel that I gained a valuable experience for my study of pharmacy.