HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

158

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

ENCOURAGING A COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO.

 

 

WHEREAS, there is a severe shortage of pharmacists throughout the mainland, as well as in Hawaii, which is expected to last well into the future, and the shortage is especially acute in rural areas of the State; and

WHEREAS, the increasing number of new medications available, accelerating number of prescriptions, an aging population, and the anticipated retirement of "baby boomer" pharmacists are all contributing to this shortage; and

WHEREAS, medication errors are a serious health problem and a leading cause of death nationwide, and clinical pharmacists are the health professionals with the expertise to help reduce medication errors; and

WHEREAS, the new national standard for licensure as a pharmacist is the Doctor of Pharmacy degree; and

WHEREAS, there is no educational program in Hawaii or the Pacific Basin that provides training leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii residents desiring to become pharmacists must travel to the mainland for their education, and because of the high ratio of applicants to available positions, most mainland state colleges are only accepting applicants who are residents; accordingly Hawaii residents are forced to enroll in very expensive private colleges, and many Hawaii residents cannot afford the high tuition in these programs (typically $28,000 to $30,000 per year) and therefore cannot pursue a career in pharmacy; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii students who do train on the mainland often stay out of state to practice, forcing local employers to recruit from the mainland to fill available positions; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii at Hilo has conducted a feasibility study for a College of Pharmacy in Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the Senate concurring, that based on the positive outcome of the feasibility study for a College of Pharmacy, the Legislature hereby encourages and supports a College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Regents, the President of the University of Hawaii, the Chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the Chairman of the Board of Pharmacy, and the Hawaii State Pharmacy Association.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

UH Hilo; Pharmacy