FWMP Application Form 2019

Here is the application form that needs to be filled and emailed, you can find the email addresses you need to email in our previous post Process for foreign pharmacists to register in South Africa.

please follow the link below to download the 2019 application form.

Download:

FWMP Application Download

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List of Hospitals in South Africa according to Province

 Health care in South Africa varies from the most basic primary health care, offered free by the state, to highly specialised, hi-tech health services available in both the public and private sector.

However, the public sector is stretched and under-resourced in places. While the state contributes about 40% of all expenditure on health, the public health sector is under 

pressure to deliver services to about 80% of the population.

The private sector, on the other hand, is run largely on commercial lines and caters to middle- and high-income earners who tend to be members of medical schemes. It also attracts most of the country's health professionals.

This two-tiered system is not only inequitable and inaccessible to a large portion of South Africans, but institutions in the public sector have suffered poor management, underfunding and deteriorating infrastructure. While access has improved, the quality of health care has fallen.

The situation is compounded by public health challenges, including the burden of diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis (TB), and a shortage of key medical personnel.

However, the South African government is responding with a far-reaching reform plan to revitalize and restructure the South African health care system, including:

• Fast-tracking the implementation of a National Health Insurance scheme, which will eventually cover all South Africans.
• Strengthening the fight against HIV and TB, non-communicable diseases, as well as injury and violence.
• Improving human resource management at state hospitals and strengthening coordination between the public and private health sector.
• Deploying "health teams" to communities and schools.
• Regulating costs to make health care affordable to all.
• Increasing life expectancy from 56.5 years in 2009 to 58.5 years in 2014.

The bulk of health-sector funding comes from South Africa's National Treasury. The health budget for 2012/13 was R121-billion, which was aimed at improving hospitals and strengthening public health ahead of the National Health Insurance scheme.

In 2011, total spend on health was R248.6-billion – or around 8.3% of GDP, way above the 5% recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Despite this high expenditure, health outcomes remain poor when compared to similar middle-income countries. This can largely be attributed to the inequities between the public and private sector.

There are about 381 Govt. hospitals in South Africa that are working very hard to keep all the South Africans healthy. Out of which 255 hospitals are District hospitals, 60 are Regional hospitals, 50 are Specialized hospitals, 7 Provincial Tertiary hospitals, 9 National Central hospitals. Here is the list of all the hospitals according to the province and the types of hospitals.

Click below link to download pdf.

DOWNLOAD

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New Immigration Rules for all foreigners in South Africa

Immigrating to South Africa? Then you need to make a note of the following rules that have changed and will be implemented soon. We all knew about the drama that has been going on for a while about the changes in the immigration rules, Govt has pulled the curtain down and passed these amendments recently in order to make a clear distinction between all kinds of visas and their time periods.

Well, it seems like the Department of Home Affairs (DOH) has given a contract to VFS to receive all applications, but receiving applications until a certain period ( until further notice) for stability.

A brief of changed Immigration Rules:

1. Visa Status Changing while You are still in South Africa:

Time period for applying for an extension has been changed from 30 days prior to the expiry of the current visa to 60 days. According to New World Immigration, Home Affairs is already harried with visa applications that are pending to date and this new time period will wallop the time taken for approval process.

The new regulations also state that a person cannot change from a visitor’s visa into another type of visa and these applications for change of conditions must be made at a mission abroad - ie an embassy or consulate.

According to the old rules of immigration, it was possible to apply for a temporary residence permit whilst using a visitor's visa but the “new legislation” now prohibits any foreigner from applying for a temporary residence permit using a visitor’s visa.

Those who are using a visitor’s visa in South Africa would now need to leave and apply in their own country of residence.

If a person's visitor visa has expired, they would need to seek legal advice about exiting South Africa as immigration officials have been advised to ban any foreigners for overstaying - by making them an undesirable person for 1 year, 2 years or 5 years.
 
2. Life Partner and Spouse Visas

Initially, government wanted proof that spouses or life partners have been together for at least 5 years before an application for a permanent or temporary residency could be made. This has since been changed to 2 years. Life Partners will however need to attend an interview “on the same date and time to determine the authenticity of the existence of their relationship”.

Issues arise when changes or extensions have to be applied for - with certain applications only eligible if done from the person's original country of residence. 

3. Business Visas

This visa sees a more forensic approach in the new application process. Businesses will now need to get a recommendation letter from the Department of Trade and Industry and business visas will only be granted for 3 years at a time.

4. Critical Skills Visa

The Quota and Exceptional skills work permits have been replaced by the Critical Skills permit but the list of Critical Skills has not been published.

5. Intra-Company Visas

The employee will need to be employed with the foreign office for no less than 6 months before being eligible for transfer to South Africa. The visa will now be available for 4 years.

6. Fines

There has also been a massive increase in the administrative fines to be issued to those who overstay and any other persons who are in contravention of the act. Also, if a visa has expired foreigners face a ban labelling them an undesirable person for 1 year, 2 years or 5 years.

So, Foreigners of all professions, mainly and proudly pharmacists please keep in mind that you should never take a chance with your permit expiry.

                                                       Thank You

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Are there jobs for foreign pharmacists in South Africa?

Hello people,

So, did you ever ask yourself if there are any jobs for foreign pharmacists in South Africa? If you did, you might as well thought about how long is it gonna take for yourself to be a pharmacist in South Africa. Here i come to answer all your questions and clear all your doubts.

Let's begin with job availability.

"Yes"...... There are plenty of opportunities for pharmacists in South Africa. It is a fact that South Africa has a footling number of pharmacists and is still looking forward to expand the profession as wide as possible by bringing in new blood into the country. Aspiring pharmacists across the world are now eyeing on South Africa to grab this opportunity.

Why is the scarcity so severe?

You might have asked yourself and wonder, why is the scarcity of pharmacists so severe in a country of 52 million people? well, the answer is simple, there are only few universities in this country who offer pharmacy degree, and most of these universities require high percentages in metric to get into this professional course. Another reason is poverty, though Govt. provide various modes of funding to the students in the form of bursaries and loans. And another most important factor is drop out rate. Not every student that gets into this course will come out with the degree, believe me, atleast 50% of these students drop out from the university for various reasons. So, minding all these factors, there is a clear and undoubtful scarcity for pharmacists in the country.

Job preferences hierarchy:

1st : South African bursary holders
2nd : South African Non-bursary holders
3rd : International Students ( studied in SA)
4th : Foreigners who failed to find a position previous year
5th : foreigners who passed the current year

                                    

How Long Does It Take For A Foreigner To Become a Pharmacist intern In South Africa?

Unfortunately, very long......
Yes, it takes a lot of time for a foreigner to become a pharmacist intern here. Unless, you study B.pharmacy in this country, its a pretty difficult task to start practicing here. According to the situation now in South Africa, an average student (who qualified outside South Africa) can become a pharmacist intern successfully in 2 years of time, given that you clear all the exams in 2 attempts atleast. clearing all the exams is one task, and finding an intern position for yourself is another.
Foreigners are finding it very difficult to find Internship positions in the country, it is strange how health department is acting these days, even though there is scarcity for pharmacists in this country, even though there are plenty of positions available in various provinces, the dept. is failing to take the responsibility to fill them up with what ever options they have ( foreigner). Foreigners who have already cleared all the exams and have the endorsement letters in their hands are still waiting and are still searching for positions.

What problems would you probably face?

Well, here we need to keep one thing in mind, "permit expiry".

1. If you clear all your exams in single attempt, then you'll have a plenty of time in your hands to find an intern position which takes roughly 5 to 6 months if you are lucky enough to find a position for yourself. Remember, your initial visit permit expires in 3 months, and you will get one extension for 3 more months ( If you are extremely lucky you might sometimes get the permit for 6 months). This period must be sufficient to find a position. If your luck is hitting back, forget 3 months, it might even take a year. FWMP and SAPC got nothing to do with your internship position ( atleast that's what they say) Health dept. can help you find a position but they take very long, so it's good if you hunt for it by yourself but obviously you would seek help of the people in health dept.

2. If you clear all your exams in 2 attempts, you got limited time. You'll have to fly back to your country once the extended visit permit expires. you'll have to search for a position sitting in your country. which is extremely difficult and expensive.

3. If you did not clear your exams in 2 attempts, you'll get one last chance, as three is the maximum number of attempts you can do to clear all your exams. By this time your visit permit should have expired and you'll have to find your own ways to take your final attempt. Finding a position is difficult in any case, doesn't matter if you pass in single attempt or 3 attempts.

What options you can look into?

Firstly, you'll have to decide for yourself whether you want to do your internship in private or in govt., It is obvious that everyone wants to work in Govt. but if the situation gets worse you must be prepared to work even in private( even for less money for that matter). working in private will be a good option, it will atleast put you through in a track and gives you a start. ( But your first preference must always be the Govt.)
Secondly, You can apply for intern jobs in Pharmaceutical companies.

Bottom line:

It is very difficult to settle down here, but it is not impossible, in fact if you have strong will and dedication and enough time, starting a career in South Africa is a great option. If you can pass all the hurdles, nothing can stop you from being successful here.
It's your hardwork and your execution of your own plans and strategies that will take you to success. patience and hardwork are the key factors.

I just wanted to share my thoughts here, and this post is coming out of experience and after seeing people who are struggling and who got success instantly.


                                                     THANK YOU
                                 
                           we are open for questions and doubts, feel free to ask

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