Overview
Objectives
- Integrate the basics of pharmaceutical crisis leadership and management
- Acquire extensive knowledge on the logistics, use and management of medicines and medical devices in emergency and disaster situations
- Apply this knowledge to a professional environment for the benefit of patients
- Practice interprofessional collaboration and preparedness in emergency and disaster contexts
- Share experiences with colleagues working in different fields, and understand their respective issues and responsibilities related to therapeutic products (ambulatory, hospital, industrial, administrative, humanitarian and military)
Audience
Learning outcomes
- Acquire specialized and multidisciplinary knowledge on drugs and medical devices used in emergency and disaster
- Being able to analyse, judge, decide, provide reasoned justification, and document for complex pharmaceutical issues in new and not experienced health crisis contexts
- Develop, negotiate and justify alternative ways for the procurement of medicines and medical devices during a health crisis (including appropriate Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant local pharmaceutical production)
- Being able to independently process, evaluate and integrate relevant knowledge about drugs and medical devices
Programme
6 modules
- Context, Conduct and Health Organisation in Crisis
- Use of Drugs and Medical Devices in Emergency Situations, Part I: Theoretical Background
- Use of Medicines and Medical Devices in Emergency Situations, Part II: Practical Applications
- CBRN Danger: Toxicology, Medical Management and Use of Antidotes
- Biological Risk Management in Health Care
- Logistics and Pharmaceutical Production in Disaster and Extraordinary Situation
Portfolio Thesis
Diploma awarded
Registration
Registration deadline
Fees:
CHF 4,500.- for the complete programme
CHF 900.- per module (no modular registration for module 4)
Admission criteria
- Hold a bachelor's degree, a master's degree or a university degree in pharmacy or medicine from a Swiss or foreign university, a master's degree or a bachelor's degree from a university of applied sciences (UAS) in nursing care or a diploma from an ambulance school or a title deemed equivalent and
- Have a minimum of 2 years of professional experience with functions or tasks related to the Certificate programme
The Steering Committee reserves the right to accept applications from persons who do not meet the requirements upon examination of their application file and/or to propose an individual interview for a decision.
Number of participants
Application File
- Copy of identity document or passport
- Passport photo (.jpg format)
- Curriculum vitae
- Cover letter
- Copy of the highest educational qualification obtained
Cancellation Policy
Any withdrawal before the start of the programme will incur an administration fee of CHF 900.-. Fees will be payable in full before the course has begun.
Curriculum
Period
Credits
Teaching hours
In this context, as well as in everyday emergencies in pre-hospital and hospital settings and in the humanitarian context, the role of drugs and medical devices in treating victims and ensuring the survival of most individuals is obvious. In this respect, specific pharmaceutical, pharmacological, and technical knowledge but also a sense of priorities and triage are essential for any health professional involved in emergency and disaster situations. This knowledge is often not sufficiently present and disseminated.
Thus, the overall objective of this CAS is to provide a recognised interprofessional postgraduate university education in emergency and disaster pharmacy. It provides qualified pharmacists, physicians, paramedics, and other health professionals with the necessary skills and/or updated knowledge to strengthen their expertise in this specific field.
Location
Fee
Planning
January 31, February 1, 2, 2024
Description
- Establish a link between risks, threats and appropriate responses to crisis situations
- Define and understand emergency and disaster medicine and pharmacy
- Explain the principles of health crisis management
- Describe the need for therapeutic products in a health crisis situation calculated in quantities in defined daily doses per patient
- Differentiate the roles of health professionals and their complementarity in the context of emergency and disaster medicine
Speakers
Location
Fee
Planning
March 2024
Description
- Describe clinical situations and therapeutic needs in crisis situations
- Illustrate the specificities of therapeutic products used during crisis and of their logistical handling
- Develop standard operating procedures and product lists for emergencies and disasters (protocols, kits, etc.)
- Define interdisciplinary collaboration and working procedures based on the strengths and expertise of each professional in crisis situations
Speakers
Location
Fee
Planning
April 24, 25, 26, 2024
Description
- Identify therapeutic needs in practice according to different clinical situations
- Experience specificities of therapeutic products used during crisis situations
- Apply the minimum standards to be respected in crisis situations (protocols, kits, etc.)
- Practice multidisciplinary collaboration in crisis situations
Speakers
Location
Planning
June 13, 14, 2024
Description
 course, certificate is internationally approved
- Identify Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) risks
- Know the principles of self-protection and patient protection as well as the basics of personal and material decontamination
- Learn the systematic approach to people exposed to hazardous materials
- Recognise the specific "toxidromes" (poisoning syndromes) and learn the respective characteristics
- Learn to systematically apply the "poisoning treatment paradigm", including the knowledge and use of specific antidotes
Speakers
Location
Fee
Planning
September 4, 5, 6, 2024
Description
- Assess natural and manmade biological risks
- Elaborate the necessary preventive, protective and hygienic measures during outbreak
- Assess the role of vaccination in crisis and post-crisis situations (interdisciplinary role)
- Identify essential antibiotics for emergency or crisis situations and their specificities
Speakers
Location
Fee
Planning
November 13, 14, 15, 2024
Description
- Become familiar with the principle of emergency production and stockpiling of drugs
- Understand the risks in the supply chain field and manage shortages, including the regulatory issues
- Describe the principles of continuity planning of distributors and international mission support
- Recognise substandard and falsified drugs
- Know the possibilities of emergency production within the Swiss Armed Forces Pharmacy and the essential elements of a drug production facility
Speakers
Pedagogical method
- Interprofessional interactive teaching promoting reflection among participants including lecturers based on concrete cases
- Interdisciplinary work is suggested to enrich and complement knowledge and skills of the attendees
- Social and interpersonal exchanges among the participants and also during the modules are encouraged
Partnerships / Collaboration
Partnership


Collaboration
Sponsored by
Accreditation / Recognition / Certification
Director(s)
Prof. Pascal BONNABRY, Faculty of Science, AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ
Coordinator(s)
Steering committee
- Prof. Pascal Bonnabry (Director), Director of the Specialised Centre for Emergency and Disaster Pharmacy, AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ; Chief Pharmacist, Geneva AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ Hospitals
- Prof. Stefan Mühlebach (Co-Director), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Clinical Pharmacy & Epidemiology/Hospital Pharmacy, AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ of Basel
- Dr Olivier Hagon, Deputy Head, Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ Hospitals; Medical Director at the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit; lecturer at the AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ
- PD Dr Nicolas Widmer, Operational Director of the Specialised Centre for Emergency and Disaster Pharmacy, AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ; Chief Pharmacist, Pharmacy of the Eastern Vaud Hospitals, Rennaz
- Mr Michael Flück, MPH, Cantonal pharmacist, Bern (External Expert)
Scientific committee
- Ms Marie-José Barbalat, Community pharmacist, Unisanté, Lausanne; President of Pharmacists without Borders Switzerland
- Lt Col Stéphane Galy, Chief Pharmacist, French National Fire Officers Academy, Aix-en-Provence (France)
- Dr Birgit Andrea Gartner, Associate Medical Officer, Pre-hospital Emergencies and Resuscitation Unit, Geneva AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ Hospitals
- Dr Sébastien Marti, Community pharmacist, Neuchâtel, pharmaSuisse committee
- Dr Beat Möckli, Head of Clinic; Operational Director of the Specialised Centre for War and Disaster Surgery, Geneva AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ Hospitals
- Dr Erik Paus, Pharmacist and Paramedic, Lecturer at the AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ
- Dr Kathrin Summermatter, Head, Biosafety Center, Institute for Infectious Diseases, AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ of Bern
- Prof. Mathias Zürcher, Associate Professor for Rescue and Disaster Medicine, AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ Hospital Basel; Head of the Swiss Center for Rescue, Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Basel