Practicing pharmacist education based on the experiences of medical support on the cruise ship Diamond Princess.
Journal:
BMC medical education
Published Date:
May 16, 2025
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Passengers on the cruise ship Diamond Princess (DP), which departed Yokohama on 20 January 2020, were found to be infected with the new coronavirus after arrival in Hong Kong. Passengers and crew were not allowed to disembark, instead being quarantined on board; an onboard pandemic resulted. Many passengers were elderly and in need of medications; pharmacists and other professionals, including the author, were assigned to provide medical support (the author participated on two occasions). Many passengers were not Japanese nationals; those who required medicines not sold in Japan received analogs of medicines that are sold in Japan. Pharmacists were required to complete medication guidance documents (in English). The author considered that by using this experience as teaching material, pharmacy students would not only learn English but also become educated in terms of drug therapy.
