Council Decisions
(February, May and July 2022)
This article presents a summary of selected matters discussed and decisions taken by the South African Pharmacy Council (‘Council’) during its meetings held on 16/17 February, 18/19 May and 27/28 July 2022. Other matters on the operations of the Office of the Registrar and Council are covered in the articles featured in this issue of the Pharmaciae.
Removal of registration/recording of pharmacies as a result of non-compliance with Good Pharmacy Practice and other pharmacy legislation
In terms of Regulation 72 of the Regulations relating to registration of persons and maintenance of registers, Council may direct the Registrar to remove from the register of pharmacies any pharmacy which does not comply with any of the conditions of registration of such pharmacy. At its meeting in October 2021, Council deliberated on the removal of several pharmacies for reasons ranging from non-compliance with the Rules relating to Good Pharmacy Practice and other legislation to the non-payment of fees. It was decided that fifteen (15) of these pharmacies would be removed from the register based on the Guidelines for Removal of Pharmacy Registration/Recording as a Result of Non-Compliance with Good Pharmacy Practice and Other Pharmacy Legislation, as published in Board Notice 63 of 2020. A further 111 pharmacies where fees have not been paid were to be removed in terms of Regulation 72 of the Regulations relating to the registration of persons and maintenance of registers.
In July 2022, Council resolved to remove a further 22 pharmacies from the register of pharmacies in terms of the Guidelines for the removal of pharmacy registration/recording as a result of non-compliance with Good Pharmacy Practice and other pharmacy legislation.
Responsible Pharmacists and Pharmacy Owners are reminded to ensure that their pharmacies comply with all relevant legislation and that the pharmacy account is up to date with the SAPC to avoid removal of the recording/registration of their pharmacy.
Failure to comply with CPD Requirements
In October 2021, Council resolved that pharmacists who had been designated as non-practising on the register of pharmacists due to non-compliance with the Continuing Professional Development requirements must submit the outstanding CPD entries for the year in which they were designated as non-compliant, before they may apply for a change of designation to “practising”. Council also decided that pharmacists who are registered tutors and/or Responsible Pharmacists who have faced disciplinary action by SAPC for non-compliance with CPD requirements are required to submit the outstanding CPD entries for the year in which they were non-compliant, as well as pay any fine and/or cost order recommended by the disciplinary committees of Council.
Applicants with a qualification obtained outside of South Africa
The Office of the Registrar receives applications from candidates with foreign qualifications who wish to be registered with Council as pharmacists and pharmacy support personnel. Applicants are required to submit supporting documents for evaluation by the Pre-registration Committee. Upon approval, applicants who have applied to be registered as pharmacists are required to write a professional examination, prior to their registration as a Pharmacist Intern.
At its February 2022 meeting, Council resolved that:
- Ms Refiloe Rose Mokhitli, who obtained her qualification from the National University of Lesotho, may be registered as a Pharmacist’s Assistant (Post-Basic), on the condition that she sit for an assessment on the laws and regulations pertaining to the practice of pharmacy in South Africa and is deemed to be competent. She also needs to complete at least six months of supervised practice in the relevant category of registration to ensure that she is exposed to the South African health system. Once the relevant regulations have been finalised, Ms Mokhitli may be registered as a Pharmacy Technician.
- Ms Selina Mthombeni and Mr Sidwell Mononela, whose country of origin is South Africa and whose pharmacy qualifications were issued by Manipal University, India, be registered as Pharmacist Interns after successfully completing the Professional Examinations. They will also be required to complete a minimum of twelve (12) months’ internship in an institutional or community pharmacy, and they shall be required to complete the pre-registration evaluation successfully.
At its meeting in May 2022, Council resolved that:
- Mr Yannick Belo Nuapia, who obtained his qualification from the University of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, may be registered as a Pharmacist’s Assistant (Post-Basic), on condition that he sit for an assessment on the laws and regulations pertaining to the practice of pharmacy in South Africa and is deemed competent. He also needs to complete at least six months of supervised practice in the relevant category of registration to ensure that he is exposed to the South African health system. Once the relevant regulations have been finalised, Mr Nuapia may be registered as a Pharmacy Technician.
- Subject to the favourable confirmation of a SAQA verification certificate Ms Seyi Omogiate, whose country of origin is Nigeria and whose pharmacy qualification was issued by the University of Benin; and Mr Lerato Gilbert Mokhothu, whose country of origin is South Africa and whose pharmacy qualification was issued by Manipal University, India, be registered as Pharmacist Interns after successfully completing the Professional Examinations. They will also be required to complete a minimum of twelve (12) months’ internship in an institutional or community pharmacy, and they shall be required to complete the pre-registration evaluation successfully.
At its meeting in July 2022, Council resolved that:
- Subject to favourable confirmation of SAQA verification certificates, Ms Rose-Ann Maditaba Koadibane and Mr William Monyatsi, whose country of origin is South Africa and whose qualification was issued by Manipal University, India, be registered as Pharmacist Interns after successfully completing the Professional Examinations. They will also be required to complete a minimum of twelve (12) months’ internship in an institutional or community pharmacy, and they shall be required to complete the pre-registration evaluation successfully.
- Ms Angela Murangandi, whose country of origin is Zimbabwe and whose Pharmacy Technician qualification was issued by the Pharmacists’ Council of Zimbabwe, be required to register as a Pharmacist’s Assistant (Learner Post-Basic) and be required to complete a module on Pharmacy Law and Ethics with an accredited provider. She must also successfully complete a minimum of six (6) months of in-service training at a facility approved for training under the supervision of an approved tutor and submit a four (4) months’ progress report. Once she has successfully completed the External Integrated Summative Assessment for Pharmacist’s Assistants (Post-Basic), been successful in the Pharmacy Law and Ethics module, and completed the in-service training, she may be registered as a Pharmacist’s Assistant (Post-Basic).
Accreditation of short courses
The Office of the Registrar received an application for the accreditation/approval of a course titled “Dispensing course for Health Professionals” from the Health Science Academy. At its meeting in February 2022, Council resolved that this course be accepted and approved.
The Office of the Registrar received an application for the accreditation/approval of a course titled “Safe Handling of Healthcare Waste” from Geozone Environmental (Pty) Ltd. At its meeting in May 2022, Council resolved that this course be accepted and approved.
