The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine – Foundation, function and future

Abstract

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine was established in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1989 to develop and maintain competence, ethics and the highest professional standards of practice in the discipline. This article charts the founding principles and history of the Faculty, details its composition and membership, and outlines the major functions and achievements of the organisation in the context of the development of the discipline of pharmaceutical medicine. The recognition of pharmaceutical medicine as a medical specialty in the UK is described together with the associated certification programme Pharmaceutical Medicine Specialty Training, which enables pharmaceutical physicians to become certified practitioners in the specialty with the UK General Medical Council (UK GMC).