Archived Articles

The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) is happy to present to the profession our newly appointed and promoted employees, who have undergone a rigorous selection process. They bring with them a diversity of skills, experience and capabilities to help the SAPC fulfil its legislative mandate. In this period, we are also bidding farewell to two (2) colleagues as they opted to pursue other paths and seek greener pastures. We wish them the very best in their new paths.

Having taken stock of the continued commitment of pharmacy professionals to the fight against COVID-19 and the intensity with which Pharmacy is supporting the country’s vaccine rollout programme, the South African Pharmacy Council (Council) has resolved to adjust annual fees by only 4%, defying inflation, as a gesture of support and solidarity with the profession.

Legislation having an impact on Pharmacy and the practice environment is continuously updated in response to changing environmental and other factors. We endeavour to include all legislative amendments and new/proposed legislation and regulations in each issue of the e-Pharmaciae. This edition looks at the legislation published in 2021.

The brutality of COVID-19 and the sustained lack of definite treatment for the pathogen continue to pose ethical challenges for health care workers globally, including pharmacy professionals. The desire to heal and provide definite therapeutic outcomes for patients is an internalised trait of all pharmacy professionals; as such, the off-label usage of certain health products is likely in a pandemic. However, pharmacy professionals are called upon to ensure their actions are always ethical and beyond reproach.

Changing the location of a pharmacy, its ownership of making internal changes within the pharmacy without notifying the South African Pharmacy Council and seeking approval from relevant authorities is against regulatory and legal requirements, and may not only affect access to pharmaceutical services within affected communities but may also result in non-compliance with good pharmacy, manufacturing and/or wholesaling practice (GxP) requirements. When it occurs, it may result in withdrawal of the pharmacy licence.

Continuing Professional Development is an important element of continued competence of a professional in a rapidly advancing practice environment, such as that which pharmacists operate within. New technologies, therapies and health products are continuously being introduced; and best practice is evolving and everchanging in response to policy, disease burden, new diseases, amongst others. As such, for a pharmacy professional to remain competent and relevant, a mindset that embraces life-long learning is necessary.

The South African Pharmacy Council continuing professional development system is one that emphasises outcome-based learning and does not rely on the accumulation of points as an indicator of learning. As such, it is easy to comply with CPD requirements and the system allows for a cost-free learning process. Learning could occur through short courses, self-study, on-the-job guidance or learning, webinars, journal articles, amongst many other avenues.

The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) is legislatively mandated to protect the public’s right to quality pharmaceutical care and to uphold the good image of the pharmacy profession. To achieve this end, the Committee of Formal Inquiry investigates alleged misconduct by pharmacy professionals and premises owners, and institutes various penalties on those found guilty – these can range from a fine and/or suspension from practice, or complete deregistration. In terms of the Regulations relating to the conduct of inquiries held in terms of Chapter V of the Pharmacy Act, 53 of 1974, in particular Regulation 26, respondents who have been found guilty by a Committee of Formal Inquiry (CFI) shall have their names, together with the summary of the charges and the penalty imposed by the CFI, published in a Council report.