ROLE OF PHARMACISTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

As in most countries, the practice of a profession in South Africa requires evidence of an appropriate level of education and practical experience. The recognition of qualifications in most health-related professions is the responsibility of a registration authority established by government statute. To be able to work as a pharmacist in South Africa, registration with the South African Pharmacy Council is needed. The practice of pharmacy by unregistered persons is punishable by law.

Pharmacists in South Africa are expected to:

1.      organise the manufacturing, compounding and packaging of pharmaceutical products;

2.      organise the procurement, storage and distribution of pharmaceutical products;

3.      dispense and ensure the optimum use of medicine prescribed to the patient;

4.      provide pharmacist initiated care to the patient and ensure the optimum use of medicine;

5.      provide education and information on health care and medicine;

6.      promote community health and provide related information and advice;

7.      participate in research to ensure the optimal use of medicine.

8.      Most pharmacists practise in community pharmacies and in hospital pharmacies in the public and private sector. A smaller number of pharmacists work in manufacturing pharmacies, wholesale pharmacies, academic and government institutions or the armed services.

 

Community and hospital pharmacists have a wide range of responsibilities. These include:

(1) the provision of pharmaceutical care by taking responsibility for the patient's medicine related needs and being accountable for meeting these needs, which include the following functions:

(a) evaluation of a patient's medicine related needs by determining the indication, safety and effectiveness of the therapy;

(b) dispensing of any medicine or scheduled substance on the prescription of an authorised prescriber;

(c) furnishing information and advice to any person with regard to medicine;

(d) determining patient compliance with the therapy and follow up to ensure that the patient's needs are being met; and

(e) provision of pharmacist initiated therapy;

(2) compounding, manipulation or preparation of medicines and scheduled substances;

(3) purchasing, acquiring, keeping, possessing, using, supplying or selling of medicine or scheduled substance;

(4) applications for the registration of medicines or medical devices;

(5) re-packaging of medicine;

(6) promotion of public health in accordance with guidelines and standards including:

(a) the provision of information and education regarding the promotion of human health;

(b) the provision of immunisation, mother and childcare, blood pressure monitoring; health education; blood-glucose monitoring; screening tests for pregnancy; family planning; cholesterol screening tests; HIV screening tests; urine analysis; and visiometric and audiometric screening tests;

(c) the provision of animal health care services including:

(i) the compounding and dispensing of prescriptions written by veterinarians and ensuring the optimal use of veterinary medicines;

(ii) the immunisation of animals;

(iii) the handling of minor and/or self-limiting ailments in animals; and

(iv) the provision of information and education regarding the promotion of animal health.

(7) conducting of pharmaceutical research and development;

(8) provision of primary care drug therapy with prior authorisation from council; and

(9) any other health service as may be approved by council from time to time.

Pharmacists in manufacturing pharmacies are involved in:

(1) manufacturing of medicine and scheduled substances;

(2) purchasing, acquiring, keeping, possessing, using, supplying or selling of any medicine or scheduled substance;

(3) furnishing of information and advice to any person with regard to medicine manufactured;

(4) applications for the registration of medicines or medical devices;

(5) formulation of medicine for the purposes of registration as a medicine;

(6) distribution of medicine or scheduled substances;

(7) repackaging of medicine in accordance with the Medicines Act;

(8) initiation and conducting of pharmaceutical research and development; and

(9) any other health service as may be approved by council from time to time.