Earlier in the previous month the profession was alerted to my assuming the mammoth task of serving both the public and Pharmacy profession in the capacity of Registrar of the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC). It is indeed a privilege and honour like no other, to serve in this capacity and I do not take the opportunity lightly. While I am not oblivious to the demands of the role and the integrity with which the Office of Council must always be conducted, I am confident that our work to advance Pharmacy will continue unabated.

The previous year has been a testing year for both the Country and its people as well as the entire pharmacy profession. We continue to navigate a very troubled period in our careers. However, our resilience as a profession, has been proven time and again over the past several months. I, on behalf of Council, wish to express appreciation to all pharmacy professionals continuing to courageously occupy their combatant positions at the front line of the confrontation against COVID-19.

The following is a summary of selected issues discussed and decisions taken by the South African Pharmacy Council (‘Council’) during its meeting on 21-22 July 2020. Other matters on the operations of the Office of the Registrar and Council are covered in the articles featured in this February 2021 issue of the Pharmaciae.

As the Registrar for 16 years, Mr Amos Masango, bids farewell to SAPC at the end of January 2021, the Senior Managers pay tribute to their leader and mentor on behalf of all the staff at the SAPC.

Talent recruitment, retention and human capital development are at the core of the Office of the Registrar’s strategic mandate. It is with great joy that we announce the appointment and promotion of skilled, experienced and qualified candidates to help Council fulfil its legislative mandate and take Pharmacy forward. The SAPC is poorer as it bids farewell to various colleagues due to resignation and retirement.

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 between March 2020 and November 2020.

In terms of the Pharmacy Act, the Registrar of the South African Pharmacy Council is to keep up-to-date accurate registers of persons registered to practise the calling of Pharmacy in South Africa. The accuracy of the details on the registers is required for verification of registration and registration details, as well as the communication of Council decisions and changes in legislation and procedures to registered persons.

In terms of section 4(zG) of the Pharmacy Act, 53 of 1974, Council may determine the fees payable to Council. This means that any new fees or amendments to existing fees are determined annually by Council.

COVID-19 has forced the pharmacy profession to embrace the 4th Industrial Revolution much quicker than was anticipated. The Pre-registration examinations have been no exception. Due to the national lockdown and the risks of hosting examinations at physical venues, the SAPC embraced the opportunity to fast-track the sitting of virtual examinations for interns during 2020.

The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) has published, for implementation, the Guidelines for registration of persons who hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree as pharmacist’s assistant post-basic through Board Notice 138 of 2020 in the Government Gazette, No. 43934 on 27 November 2020.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is evolving and as such, the systems used to record CPD must evolve too. In 2020, the SAPC launched a new CPD system and encourages all interns registered in and before 2019 to complete their CPD entries on the old system as of 31 December 2020 or face losing the entries already submitted.

As of 2020, all practising pharmacists registered with the SAPC must complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) entries online to remain designated as practising on the register of pharmacists. To ease the process and to make the CPD system more accessible to all, the SAPC has launched a Registration App for mobile devices.

Click here to view the updated version as on 7 December 2021

Click here to view the updated version as on 7 December 2021