New study: Pharmacy education needs planetary health focus to boost environmental action

 New Monash University research has found that while pharmacy students understand pharmacists’ role in planetary health, many struggle to apply these principles in practice or link issues like antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to equity and social justice, signalling a critical gap in healthcare education.



Published in UK journal, Innovations in Education and Teaching International, the study evaluated the effectiveness of a co-designed Planetary Health Education (PHE) curriculum delivered to 398 pharmacy students across two of Monash University’s campuses in Australia and Malaysia, with a focus on one of the most urgent human-driven challenges impacting planetary health: AMR.

Amongst the student cohort, fewer than 4 per cent of students identified a connection between equity and social justice and planetary health, highlighting a gap in understanding that planetary health involves protecting vulnerable populations from disproportionate impacts of environmental degradation.

Perri Teoh, a Monash fourth-year pharmacy student who championed the curriculum co-design, said to tackle AMR effectively, health professionals must understand the human activity contributing to   resistance and be able to develop sustainable, just and equitable solutions.

“As future pharmacists, we need to understand not only the clinical aspects of AMR, but also its broader social and environmental implications. Strengthening our ability to think critically about social equity is essential, as the impacts of AMR fall most heavily on communities already facing heightened climate-related health risks. This includes Indigenous peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and disabled communities,” Ms Teoh said.

Interviews showed students often have limited understanding and misconceptions about planetary health, but following the co-design curriculum grounded in PHE principles, students reported a clearer understanding of how routine pharmacy practices, from safe medicine disposal to antibiotic stewardship, directly influence environmental and public health outcomes.

Dr Angelina Lim, the study’s lead author and Monash pharmacy educator, said there’s a growing consensus that planetary health education must be embedded across university curricula so future health professionals have the knowledge and advocacy skills to address the environmental drivers of antimicrobial resistance.

“It is now widely accepted that educating students entering the healthcare field through a planetary health lens is super important. When future pharmacists understand the connections between human health and the environment, they’re far better equipped to make informed decisions that protect patients, reduce environmental harm and strengthen the resilience of our health system,” Dr Lim said.

“What the findings from this study tells us is that students are eager and capable of engaging with planetary health, but they need clearer pathways and practical tools to turn that awareness into action. Embedding these concepts across the curriculum is how we bridge that gap and prepare graduates to lead meaningful change in their communities and workplaces.”

Dr Liza Barbour, senior author and Education Fellow (Planetary Health) with the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (FMNHS) led the curriculum co-design process with students and educators from twelve health profession disciplines at Monash University. This fellowship was initiated by FMNHS in response to urgent calls to embed more fit-for-purpose planetary health education across all disciplines.

Dr Suzanne Caliph, a study author and Sustainability Education Lead for the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, highlighted this as an example of how student-educator partnerships can foster innovation and advocacy, nurturing both current and future planetary-health champions.

“Planetary health education is an important priority area to integrate into pharmacy and broader healthcare curricula. This helps prepare graduates to contribute responsibly to health and well-being of communities and environment, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly good health and well-being, climate action, and reduced inequalities and Monash University’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship,” Dr Caliph said.

Website: cognitivescientist.org 



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