Integrating social care into pharmacy interprofessional education through holistic collaborative learning

Pharmacy education is increasingly integrating social care principles to prepare students for addressing social determinants of health in patient care. In the UK, initiatives such as updated General Pharmaceutical Council standards, interprofessional modules, and National Health Service-led programs like the Pharmacy Integration Program reflect this shift toward holistic and patient-centered care. Given the rising focus on preventive care and reducing health inequities, the integration of social care into interprofessional education (IPE) fosters a holistic, public health-oriented approach, aligning with broader health care strategies such as social prescribing and community-based interventions. Globally, frameworks from the World Health Organization and the International Pharmaceutical Federation also promote multidisciplinary collaboration. This commentary examines the integration of social care into pharmacy education, with particular emphasis on an IPE workshop model codeveloped between University College London School of Pharmacy and London Metropolitan University. This model brings together Master of Pharmacy students and MSc students from Public Health and Health & Social Care Leadership & Management programs. Through collaborative, case-based learning, students work in mixed-discipline groups to identify unmet social needs, develop holistic interventions, and reflect on the broader implications for clinical outcomes, health care costs, and health equity. By aligning IPE with institutional frameworks such as University College London's framework for ensuring inclusivity within the university for both staff and students and London Metropolitan University's Education for Social Justice Framework, pharmacy education goes beyond regulatory compliance and actively fosters a generation of pharmacists who are prepared to challenge health inequalities and drive social change.