THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

156

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

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

 

WHEREAS, there is a severe shortage of pharmacists throughout the mainland and in Hawaii which is expected to last well into the future, and 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 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 for a Doctor of Pharmacy degree; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii residents who want to become pharmacists must travel to the mainland for their education, but with the high ratio of applicants to available positions, most mainland state colleges only accept applicants who are residents, forcing Hawaii residents to enroll in very expensive private colleges, which many of them cannot afford, leaving them unable to 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 (UH-Hilo) has conducted a feasibility study for a College of Pharmacy in Hawaii; now, therefore,

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

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UH-Hilo is strongly urged to construct a solid financial plan that would allow for the establishment and operation of a college of pharmacy without requiring additional general fund appropriations from the Legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UH-Hilo is requested to submit to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005 a report on progress toward the establishment of a college of pharmacy; and

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

 

     

Report Title:

UH Hilo; Pharmacy