Decisions taken at the June and October 2015 council meetings

Applicants with a qualification obtained outside of South Africa

The Office of the Registrar received applications from candidates who wished to be registered as pharmacists or pharmacist’s assistants. In July 2011, Council resolved that applicants who have supplied proof of completion of internship with the regulatory authority of their country be required to register as interns and complete six months of internship. Council previously approved the Guidelines for persons who hold qualifications in pharmacy obtained outside the Republic, as well as criteria in the form of a checklist, to be used in the evaluation of these applications. Council resolved that:

May 2015

Messrs C Lenz and NI Omezi, and Mses TM Hamandawana and AMG Van Regemortel be registered as pharmacist interns after successfully completing the professional examinations and be required to complete a minimum of six months internship in an institutional or community pharmacy, and the preregistration examination and one progress report, prior to registration as a pharmacist.
R Bhuvanagiri, A Abu-Saman, KM Mottupalli Govarthanam, MB Moeketsi, K Kishore, O Mushisha, MSAS Malek, ANI Banglawala, SH Pavadiya, SK Ravula, A Katash and HAH Geryages, and Mses P Kudaravalli, SG Patel, M Venkatesan, I Kainth, SN Patel, PM Mokoena and M Tettey-Amlalo be registered as pharmacist interns after successfully completing the professional examinations, and be required to complete a minimum of 12 months internship in an institutional or community pharmacy and the preregistration evaluation, prior to registration as a pharmacist.
Mr C Ndlovu be required to submit to the Office of the Registrar certified proof of registration as a pharmacist from the pharmacy regulatory body in Zimbabwe. On receipt of the document, Mr Ndlovu be registered as a pharmacist intern after successfully completing the professional examinations, and be required to complete a minimum of 12 months internship in an institutional or community pharmacy and the preregistration evaluation, prior to registration as a pharmacist.
Ms V Tizirepi-Hama be registered as pharmacy support personnel in the category post-basic pharmacist’s assistant.

July 2015

Messrs KL Kapfumvuti, M Sibanda and Mses B Kapfumvuti and J Sairai be registered as pharmacist interns after successfully completing the professional examination, and be required to complete a minimum of six months internship in an institutional or community pharmacy and the preregistration examination and one progress report, prior to registration as a pharmacist.
Messrs AQ Mohammed, FF Patel, K Badavath, UB Veeramachaneni and Ms M Molahlehi be registered as pharmacist interns after successfully completing the professional examinations, and be required to complete a minimum of 12 months internship in an institutional or community pharmacy and the preregistration evaluation, prior to registration as a pharmacist.
Candidates who fail to submit proof that they have complied with CPD requirements from their country of registration as a pharmacist be required to comply with the CPD requirements for interns registered with Council to ensure that fair and equitable requirements are applicable to all interns.
The criteria for evaluation of credentials for applicants desiring registration in pharmacy with a qualification obtained outside South Africa be amended to include the statement ‘documentary evidence of compliance with the CPD requirements in your country of origin’.
Mr E Kange be allowed to register as a pharmacist’s assistant learner post-basic and be required to complete a module on Pharmacy Law and Ethics with an accredited provider. Mr E Kange also be required to successfully complete a minimum of six months in-service training at a registered training facility under the supervision of an approved tutor and submit a four month progress report.

Registration of pharmacy technical assistants (PTAs) and pharmacy technicians (PTs)

At its meeting in February 2015, Council noted the concerns pertaining to the legality of pharmacy technical assistants (PTAs) and pharmacy technicians (PTs) having access to medicines in terms of Section 22A of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 101 of 1965. An independent legal opinion and legal clarification of the opinion was sought in this regard. Current pharmacy regulations would have to be revised to include PTs and PTAs with their corresponding scopes of practice for purposes of registration of candidates as well as accreditation of the relevant providers. Section 22A of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 101 of 1965 would also have to be changed to include this category of pharmacy support personnel. In May Council resolved that the PTAs and PTs be registered as pharmacist’s assistants (post-basic) with an aligned scope of practice until such time as the regulations create a register for PTAs and PTs together with the relevant scopes of practice. Council will continue to engage with the Department of Health pertaining to the amendment to Section 22A of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 101 of 1965 pertaining to the use of ‘pharmacist’s assistant’.

Qualifications for specialists in pharmacy

In October 2014, Council approved the curriculum outline for specialist’s qualifications in pharmacy, i.e. public health pharmacy and management, clinical pharmacy and radio pharmacy, for publication in the Government Gazette for wider consultation. A Board Notice containing the proposed qualifications for specialists in pharmacy was published in the Government Gazette on 12 December 2014 and the closing date for comments was 11 February 2015. Comments were received by the Office of the Registrar, discussed and incorporated in the relevant documents. In May 2015, Council resolved that the amended professional masters degree qualification and the curriculum outline for the Specialists in Pharmacy: Clinical Pharmacy, Radio Pharmacy and Public Health Pharmacy be approved.

Good Pharmacy Education Standards (GPES)

In October 2014, Council approved the Good Pharmacy Education Standards (GPES) for publication in the Government Gazette for wider consultation. A Board Notice containing the proposed GPES was published in the Government Gazette on Friday 12 December 2014 and the closing date for comments was 11 February 2015. Comments were received by the Office of the Registrar, discussed and incorporated. In May 2015 Council resolved that the amended GPES be approved for implementation.

Monitoring visit: Pharmacy Healthcare Academy (PHA)

Council conducted a monitoring visit to Pharmacy Healthcare Academy (PHA) on 17 and18 November 2014. It was resolved in May 2015 that the report on the monitoring visit to PHA be approved.

Phases of dispensing

Council noted that pharmacies may establish dispensing processes where all three of the phases of dispensing, as detailed in Rule 2.7.1 of the Rules relating to good pharmacy practice (GPP), are not performed by the same person. Pharmacists are being put under pressure by such dispensing processes, particularly in group pharmacies where the pharmacist who is ultimately responsibile for the actual supply of the medication has no access to the original prescription or a scanned copy of the original prescription to verify the correctness thereof. In terms of disciplinary matters, this may lead to difficulties in holding an individual responsible for dispensing-related contraventions. Clarity was sought on whether all three phases of dispensing should be performed by the same person and/or in numerical order as described in rule 2.7.1 of the Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) rules. It is not a requirement that all three phases of dispensing be performed by the same person or in numerical order as described in Rule 2.7.1 of the GPP Rules, provided that the pharmacist taking final responsibility for the correct and safe dispensing of a prescription ensures that all three phases of the dispensing process are performed by an appropriately authorised person. In May 2015, Council resolved that, irrespective of the system used, the pharmacist performing the last phase of dispensing must have a copy of the prescription and ensure that all three phases have been done.

Powers of the CPD Committee

The Regulations relating to continuing professional development (Regulations vol. 551, Government Gazette No. 34254) were published by the Minister of Health for comment on Friday, 6 May 2011. A three month deadline was given for comments. At the time of the submission of these regulations, the legal unit from the National Department of Health (NDoH) removed the powers and functions of the CPD Committee from the CPD regulations. The legal unit from NDoH indicated that the powers and functions of the CPD Committee must be defined by Council. The powers and functions of the committee included:

promote an awareness of the need for continuing professional development
liaise with stakeholders on matters relating to continuing professional development
appoint assessors for purposes of assessing the participation and recording of continuing professional development by persons registered with Council
establish, develop and maintain the requirements and tools relating to participation in and recording of continuing professional development by registered persons
set criteria for the assessment of compliance with requirements for continuing professional development
adjudicate requests for deferment with the requirements relating to continuing professional development received from persons registered with Council
co-opt members to the Continuing Professional Development Committee as required from time to time
monitor and assess compliance with requirements and criteria relating to participation in and recording of continuing professional development
implement quality assurance of processes relating to continuing professional development
set standards for the approval of continuing professional development courses and activities
address all matters relating to continuing professional development or any other matter which may be referred to the committee by Council
report to Council on all matters referred to above.

In July 2015, Council approved that the powers of the CPD Committee with amendments incorporated, and that the powers of the CPD Committee be included in the CPD Guidance Document.

Process for pharmacist’s assistants to acquire competences in other categories of pharmacy

Pharmacist’s assistants who are qualified to practise in community pharmacy and wish to practise in institutional pharmacy, or vice versa, are required to undertake a period of four months in-service training in the new category of pharmacy. Those who are qualified to practise in community or institutional pharmacies and wish to practise in either manufacturing or wholesale pharmacies are required to undertake a period of four months in-service training in the new category of pharmacy, in addition to obtaining competence in any additional unit standards required for employment in the new category. In June 2015, at the meeting of the further education and training (FET) providers accredited with Council for the pharmacist’s assistant programmes, providers enquired whether pharmacist’s assistants who are practising full time in one category of pharmacy may enrol for the required module(s) and work part time in the new category to acquire the required competences. In July 2015, Council resolved that pharmacist’s assistants who are qualified to practise in one category of pharmacy and wish to obtain competences in another category be allowed to work in an alternate setting as part of their training, provided they are registered with a provider of courses that undertakes training for the alternate sector.

Monitoring visit to Abaluleki Professional Consulting-University of Fort Hare (APC-UFH) Consortium

Abaluleki Professional Consulting-University of Fort Hare (APC-UFH) Consortium is a provider accredited by Council for the National Certificate: Pharmacist Assistance (Institutional). Council conducted a monitoring visit to APC–UFH Consortium on 23 and 24 October 2014 and reported deficiencies in the programme. A follow-up visit to APC–UFH Consortium was conducted on 22 and 23 April 2015 after the institution had responded to the shortcomings that were identified during the October 2014 monitoring visit. In July 2015, Council approved the report on the monitoring visit to the consortium.

Accreditation/monitoring visit to North-West University

In August 2012, Council received the revised BPharm curriculum from North-West University for accreditation. The revised curriculum was evaluated on 25 and 26 February 2013 and approved, subject to North-West University submitting outstanding/further information before the accreditation visit to the school, and Council checking all the evidence during the accreditation visit. Council conducted an accreditation/monitoring visit to North-West University between 25 and 29 May 2015. During the visit, the panel evaluated the phasing in of the new BPharm programme and the phasing out of the old programme. In July 2015, Council approved the report on the accreditation/monitoring visit to North-West University

[dt_gap height=”20″ /]
[dt_divider style=”thin”]