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The British Pharmacological Society (BPS) recently hosted the 19th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (WCP), the largest event in the pharmacology community. Held every four years, the conference brings together delegates from around the world to share research and engage in sessions about the latest advancements in the field of pharmacology.

Our team joined the hosts at the BPS stand to welcome delegates and showcase the capabilities of our online platform used by customers to enhance prescribing skills and knowledge through eLearning and assessment resources. 

Supporting prescribing in the Middle East 

We had the opportunity to contribute to the scientific programme, by hosting a special symposium for Middle East and GCC delegates, which focused on prescribing training and the challenges to prescribing practices within the region. The speakers included; 

• His Excellency Professor Aws Alshamsan, Secretary General, Saudi Commission For Health Specialties, Saudi Arabia
• Professor Sherief Khalifa, Vice Chancellor for Quality & Institutional Effectiveness, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University, UAE
• Professor Moustafa Fahmy, Dean of the Oman College of Health Sciences, Oman
• Professor Dileep Rohra, Head of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Saudi Arabia.
• Professor Amal Fatani, Cultural Attaché, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United Kingdom
• Professor Ismael Ibrahim Matalka, President, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, UAE
• Professor Simon Maxwell, Director of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Teaching, University of Edinburgh, and PSA Medical Director

Further discussions focused on the need for better prescribing education for students and trainees through assessment and learning resources and how these improvements could be scaled across institutions in the Middle East.

Advancing prescribing in Australasia 

The team also met with customers from Australia and New Zealand to discuss the progress of the Prescribing Skills Assessment. The meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to come together and discuss strengthening the collaboration between Australasian medical schools and BPS Assessment. Discussions covered setting up local governance structures to support future summative exam delivery and focussed on creating an international partnership that will support the expansion of the Prescribing Skills Assessment in Australasia.

Meeting with existing and future customers 

Across the week, a number of our customers showcased their research findings through scientific posters. Partners from Koc University in Turkey and International Medical University in Malaysia were among the exhibitors, discussing their experiences with the Prescribing Skills Assessment and the positive impact it has had on prescribing knowledge and practices within their institutions.

The event was an excellent opportunity to connect with current and future customers while emphasising the significance of enhancing prescribing knowledge and skills in healthcare, particularly for emerging practitioners. 

We are thrilled that delegates who were able to attend enjoyed their time at the SEC, and we’re already anticipating the next meeting in 2026, which will be hosted by our colleagues at ASCEPT.

This year the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) welcomes the world’s pharmacology and therapeutics community to the 19th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (WCP). The event, which was planned to take place in 2022, but postponed due to COVID-19 considerations, will take place in Glasgow from 2-7 July. A cornerstone of the pharmacology events calendar, WCP will bring together experts from across nations in the interest of sharing their latest work and research in pharmacology. 

BPS Assessment will join the BPS at the main stand to take centre stage at the Scottish Events Campus. Read on to learn more about WCP23 and what BPS Assessment will be showcasing at the event.

What is the World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology? 

Following the 18th World Congress in Kyoto, WCP23 will take place in Glasgow in the heart of the science centre. The world renowned event celebrates advances in pharmacology and therapeutics and takes place over 6 days. The programme will feature 10 content themes and include 63 symposia, 23 keynote lectures, 18 workshops and 3 debates. Over 400 speakers and chairs have been carefully selected by the Scientific Organising Committee, bringing together top leaders and experts from  35 countries.  

How can you make the most of your time there? 

In addition to a packed scientific programme, the event also boasts a social programme showcasing the culture and hospitality of Scotland and with further opportunities to network and socialise with other world leading pharmacology experts. 

There is also a chance to experience the local surroundings. Glasgow has a whole host of attractions and sightseeing destinations for those who want to enjoy their free time away from the conference venue. Here are a few attractions to check out: 

• Glasgow Botanic Gardens
• Glasgow Cathedral 
• The Necropolis 
• The Gallery of modern Art

Meet BPS Assessment while at WCP23

For those attending, BPS Assessment can be found at the main BPS stand, where the team will be ready to showcase the products and services on offer from the assessment and learning branch of the Society. Visit the stand and meet the team to learn more about the ways in which they are helping to improve prescribing. 

BPS Assessment will be hosting two satellite events. The first is for delegates from the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council countries.  At the event, senior figures in healthcare will review the current status of prescribing education and training in the region and will also present and discuss opportunities to improve prescribing skills. The opening address will be given by Dr Aws, Al-Shamsan, Secretary General of the Saudi Commission For Health Specialties.  

BPS Assessment will also be hosting colleagues from Australia and New Zealand to discuss progress on the development of a fully summative Australasian prescribing exam.

The Prescribing Skills Assessment 

Learn more about the Prescribing Skills Assessment, the flagship product which is being used by medical schools and organisations across the globe to improve prescribing competency among clinical trainees. The assessment, which is derived from the UK Prescribing Safety Assessment, features 8 questions styles that test a range of prescribing competencies, building understanding and knowledge of key concepts such as prescription writing and review, calculations and data interpretation.

eLearning courses 

There are also a whole host of eLearning resources available from BPS Assessment. Discover the courses on offer including Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Prescribing Skills, each consisting of over 20 individual online learning sessions with built-in knowledge check questions.

Platform licensing 

If you want the flexibility of writing your own questions for your students, you might consider a platform license with BPS Assessment. The online learning platform has a built-in authoring tool so that you can write, review and publish your own questions. Take advantage of the system’s drug bank where you can develop questions using hundreds of drug formulations. Organisations are using this built-in feature to build resources to support their curricula and develop training that fits with their own requirements.

Registration of WCP23 is open so visit the WCP website to get your tickets today. Why not get in touch and book an appointment to meet with the BPS Assessment team ahead of the congress to learn how these products and services could help your organisation improve prescribing. Contact us today!

An independent review of the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) has found that it increases the attention paid by students and faculty to accurate prescribing, and allows them to demonstrate competencies in the safe and effective use of medicines. According to the report’s author, the assessment will contribute to patient safety and reduce harm in the years to come. The Prescribing Safety Assessment inspired the international BPS Assessment platform.

The PSA is the online assessment of competency in the safe and effective prescribing of medicines, taken by final-year medical students and by overseas graduates coming to the UK to work as Foundation Year 1 doctors. It is led by the British Pharmacological Society and MSC Assessment and has received additional funding from Health Education England and NHS Education Scotland.

The assessment was created after a 2009 study from the General Medical Council found that 9% of hospital prescriptions contained errors. Subsequent research also showed that prescribing is the area of the Foundation Doctor role which graduates find the most challenging.  The PSA was developed to address this problem and has been compulsory for all new doctors since 2016.

The review was conducted by Professor John McLachlan, Professor of Medical Education in the School of Medicine at the University of Central Lancashire. He said:

“I’m pleased to be able to confirm that it is a high-quality process that will undoubtedly contribute to patient safety in the future.”

The independent review found that the processes underlying the assessment’s development, standard setting and delivery are of a high standard, and comparable with other national level tests.

Professor David Webb, Co-Chair of the Prescribing Safety Assessment Executive and past President of the British Pharmacological Society, said:

“This independent review of the Prescribing Safety Assessment confirms the benefits of creating a robust process for producing items and running assessments. Taking the report’s recommendations into account, and after years of investment, it is reassuring to know that the assessment is not only an excellent measure of competency in safe prescribing, but also that it will help ensure patient safety in the years to come.”

Professor Jenny Higham, Co-Chair of the PSA Executive, Chair of the Medical Schools Council and member of the MSC Assessment Board, said:

“The Prescribing Safety Assessment’s development shows the success of UK medical schools in pooling their expertise to a common goal. We are delighted that students have reported the positive educational impact the Prescribing Safety Assessment has had on their prescribing knowledge. This review confirms its strength as an assessment.”

Today the Lancet published a comment by Professor Simon Maxwell – Medical Director of the PSA – and Professor David Webb, highlighting the role of the PSA  in improving medication safety,

Read the independent review