Pharmaceutical Services, Free State Department of Health, proudly hosted the fourth certificate ceremony for Pharmacist’s Assistants on 12 November 2010 at the Floreat Hall, Mangaung Local Municipality in Bloemfontein.
A total of 75 Pharmacist’s Assistant learners were the first group of the training programme run with S Buys Training and Development Academy, which is the training and education arm of the New S Buys Group, one of the largest corporate pharmacy groups in the country. The Academy focuses on addressing the backlog of the theoretical and practical training in the pharmacy environment.
The pharmacist’s assistant plays a very important role in assisting the pharmacist to provide the quality of healthcare service that is needed. In the hospital pharmacies, the assistants are responsible for the execution of routine work, while the pharmacist focuses on patient counseling and care. The Pharmacist’s Assistants are also support and provide assistance in the ART (anti-retroviral treatment), programme of the department.
The continuous training of pharmacist’s assistants is also essential to enable the Health department institutions (hospitals, community health centres and clinics) to comply with legislation. According to the amended Pharmacy Act 53 of 1974 & Medicines Control Act 101 of 1965: All persons, healthcare workers who handle, sell, issue, dispense, distribute any scheduled medicine orrelated substance must be registered with the South African Pharmacy Council.
The pharmacist’s assistants also play a pivotal role in their environment especially in the Primary Healthcare clinics. They ensure proper medicine supply management and stock control and that saves time for other health workers and provides quality healthcare to patients. The pharmacist’s assistants are thus really needed in the hospitals and community health centres to assist the pharmacist and in the districts to provide essential pharmaceutical care to the members of the community.
The training of these pharmacy support personnel, also contributes to the Mission of the Health department to provide a quality comprehensive healthcare service to the Free State community but also to empower and develop all personnel to the best of their potential.
The Post Basic Pharmacist’s Assistant learning programme spans over a period of two years [in service training further education & training (FET)]. They can only be trained (according to the Pharmacy Act 53) in a registered training facility (pharmacy) and under direct supervision of a pharmacist (registered tutor). The Unit Standards (16 modules)include subjects like Introduction to pharmacy, customer care, provision of health advice and information; dispensing practice; stock control; manufacturing and compounding of pharmaceutical products, etc. The South Africa Pharmacy Council (SAPC) maintain and control all pharmaceutical education and training in the country and execute inspections of these training facilities / tutors on a regular base.
The first Pharmacist’s Assistant -learners on the current programme within the Department of Health, was registered with the SA Pharmacy Council and commenced training in January 2004. For the past seven years, the provincial pharmaceutical training manager, Mrs Sanet Schoon in partnership with the service provider, conducted and presented workshops, contact sessions, educational tours and assessment-sessions for these learners throughout all five districts. The Free State Department of Health already trained, retained and employed 202 pharmacist’s assistants, including the 75 learners that qualified in 2010, to manage the medicine rooms at the Primary Healthcare Clinics.
After 24 assessment sessions and a lot of hard work, sweat and tears from both learners as well as tutors, these 75 post basic learners were declared competent on all their modules and were registered with the South African Pharmacy Council as Post Basic Pharmacist’s Assistants.
Ms Hlone Masiza, Manager Pharmacy Education, presented the learners with the Pharmacy Council (SAPC) certificates and also addressed the guests on behalf of the SAPC.
Ms SRO Khokho, Executive Manager, Strategic Health Programmes and Medical Support (Free State Department of Health) provided the keynote address for the event While Mr Stephan Moller, Executive Director, New S Buys Group addressed the house on behalf of the S Buys Training Academy and assisted on stage with the presentation of the certificates.
The oldest learner in this group presented with a certificate was 55 years old while the youngest was 22 years. The basic and post basic training programme serves as platforms for further studies. Two learners of this group were accepted at Medunsa Pharmacy School and are currently busy with their B.Pharm studies in Pretoria. They are Pakiso Dijane and Isaac Mpanda. The Health department is very proud of each and every learner and we want to congratulate every tutor and learner on this excellent achievement!!
Prestige awards:
Adcock Ingram Free State Pharmacist’s Assistant of the Year Award. The trophies were presented by Mr Sean Parker, Key Accounts Manager of Adcock Ingram.
Pharmacist’s Assistants were evaluated for involvement in the following aspects :- Taking responsibility & acting on own initiative (e.g. in PHC-clinics under indirect supervision of the pharmacist)
- Contribution towards Pharmacy Week 2010 (4 to 11 September 2010)
- Effective team work (pharmaceutical and other health teams)
- Innovation, enthusiasm & dedication
- Going beyond the call of duty
- Living up to the pledge of service / Batho Pele principles
- Communication and Leadership Skills
- Role in support & assistance with special programmes antiretroviral treatment (ART), tuberculosis (TB), vaccination campaigns
- Quality caring and compassionate service to patients
- Positive attitude towards colleagues, patients and contribution towards the community
The finalists were (in alphabetical order) :
- Paulus Lothane – National Hospital
- Thembeka Merriam Maqeba – UniversitasHospital
- Sarah Synthia Segopa – Lebohang PHC Clinic Wepener
- Ntediseng Francina Sibaya – Elizabeth Ross Hospital
The runner-up for 2010 :
For the way she managed the medicine store of her PHC clinic in Xhariep for more than 10 years. From Lebohang Clinic, Wepener: Sarah Synthia Segopa
The winner for 2010 :
She is a wonderful inspiration to all her colleagues, patients and fellow workers. She managed the pharmacy for many years even when the pharmacist post were vacant for a long time. From Elizabeth Ross Hospital, Qwaqwa: Ntediseng Francina Sibaya.
Enquiries:
Mrs Sanet Schoon
Tel: 051 408 1292
Cell: 082 779 7739
