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Schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States increasingly interact with those in Asian countries for various purposes such as education and research. For both those visiting and those hosting, it is important to understand and respect the culture of the other's country to enrich these interactions. This paper, the second of two manuscripts on Asian countries, focuses on India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam. For each country, the following information is provided: general introduction, health care system, pharmacy practice, and pharmacy education, stereotypes and misconceptions, recommendations for US-based health care professionals, faculty members, and students who visit these Asian countries, and recommendations for them to host visitors from these Asian countries. The aim of this paper is to assist US health care professionals, faculty members, and students in initiating and promoting a culturally sensitive engagement.

To establish and maintain successful global pharmaceutical and health care partnerships, pharmacists, pharmacy educators, and students should first learn more about the political, cultural, economic and health care dynamics that affect all of the parties involved in these arrangements. This paper explores Latin America within the context of transnational pharmacy and health-based engagement, including pharmacy-related concepts, health care and cultural considerations, behavioral health perspectives, and common misconceptions. Expert knowledge and experience were used to support and corroborate the existing literature about cultural dynamics of health. Recommendations are provided for how schools and colleges of pharmacy can enhance engagement in culturally sensitive partnerships within Latin America. Health-based profiles of Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico are presented to serve as models for establishing, enhancing, and maintaining partnerships across Latin America.

Global engagement between schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States and Africa is increasing. For a balanced and fruitful engagement, sensitivity towards the cultural and clinical needs of the people and professionals of the African region is critical. In this paper, we have divided the discussion into Southern, East, Central, and West Africa. General information about Africa, with unique aspects for individual subregions and countries, will be introduced. Stereotypes and misconceptions about the region and the people will also be discussed, along with recommendations for culturally sensitive engagement for pharmacy and other health care practitioners when hosting members from, or visiting this region. The paper is a resource for schools and colleges of pharmacy who are currently engaged or considering future outreach opportunities in Africa.

Interest in global engagement among schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States and Asian countries is growing. To develop fruitful relationships and engage in mutually enriching experiences, the cultural aspects of these countries need to be understood and respected. The aim of this paper is to facilitate culturally sensitive interactions between practitioners, faculty members, and students in the United States and those in Asian countries when they engage in health care practice and/or education. This paper introduces general information about China (including Macau and Hong Kong), Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Unique characteristics of the health care system and pharmacy education are described for each country. Stereotypes and misconceptions are discussed. Recommendations are included for initiating interactions and developing learning programs and scholarly collaborations while promoting culturally sensitive engagement. These recommendations are provided for US scholars, health care professionals, and students traveling to these countries as well as for those hosting visitors from these countries in the United States.

Global engagement between schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States and many regions of the world is increasing. For an enriching and fruitful interaction, sensitivity toward the cultural, ethical, educational, religious, historical, political, regulatory, and practice issues is critical. Lack of sensitivity may negatively impact engagement among students, professionals and other people from different regions of the world. In this special issue, eight papers will introduce general information about five regions of the world that have established and increased global engagements with institutions in the United States: Africa, the Arab world, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. In addition, the special issue will include a paper with key information related to global engagement within the United States. For each paper, the specifics provided about the selected countries include: demographics, culture, climate, pharmacy education, and health care systems, as well as common stereotypes and misconceptions held by and about the people of the country. Further, recommendations for pharmacists and other health care professionals on culturally sensitive engagement will be emphasized. Finally, recommendations for culturally sensitive engagement when US schools are hosting students and faculty members from those regions will be summarized. The papers are based on literature reviews of databases from 2000 to 2018 and internet searches with specific keywords or terms, such as cultural sensitivity, global, pharmacy, stereotypes, and ethics . Additional keywords are identified in individual papers on specific regions. Authors for each paper consist of practitioners with experience in travelling to and hosting students and professionals from the regions; practitioners with local work experience, and professionals from each region. The special issue is intended to serve as a resource for US schools and colleges of pharmacy currently engaged in or considering future outreach opportunities in these regions, and for those seeking opportunities in the United States. The special issue will provide key information to facilitate culturally sensitive engagement in existing or future relationships.

Sustainable and reciprocal partnerships in pharmacy education and practice exist between schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States and Caribbean countries and territories. This paper discusses the cultural considerations for such partnerships to flourish. First, general information on Caribbean countries and territories is covered. Next, the paper transitions into how to ensure culturally sensitive engagements when traveling to or hosting visitors from the Caribbean. This paper is intended to assist practitioners with integrating culturally sensitive considerations into the development of partnerships in this region.