Pharmacist's Assistant (Basic)

The purpose of this part-qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Pharmacist's Assistant (Basic). This qualification is the first step in becoming a Pharmacy Technician. A Pharmacist's Assistant (Basic) performs a range of assistive tasks in the various categories of pharmacy. A qualified learner will be able to: • Apply basic scientific knowledge to provide technical support in delivering pharmaceutical services. • Provide technical support for the receiving, storing, picking, packing and distributing orders. To perform stock counts and participate in stock-taking in compliance with Good Wholesaling and Distribution Practice (GWDP) and Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) requirements. • Provide technical support for the manufacture, packaging and re-packaging of non-sterile medicines and scheduled substances in compliance with Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) guidelines under the supervision of a Pharmacist. • Provide technical support for the compounding, manipulation and preparation of non-sterile medicines and scheduled substances (extemporaneous compounding) in compliance with standards as described in the GPP rules and GMP guidelines under the supervision of a Pharmacist.

South Africa currently has nine pharmacy schools producing a limited number of pharmacists. The medicine supply is key to the effective delivery of healthcare. Consequently, it is important to manage pharmacy human resources are effectively and efficiently managed to meet the healthcare needs of this country. There is an urgent need to increase pharmacy human resources and following a global trend, pharmacy support personnel can fill that workforce gap. The South African Pharmacy Council must ensure that these Pharmacy Support Personnel (PSP) are suitable for: • The National Health Insurance. • The re-engineering of primary healthcare services and • For facilitating the State President's initiative, Operation PHAKISA for the ideal clinic realisation. The need to increase the productivity and responsibilities of the PSPs especially in areas around medicine supply chain and dispensing became apparent with the thrust to release the pharmacist to focus more on patient care. The evolution of a more patient-centric role for the pharmacist is a global phenomenon and the PSP must support this change. PSPs may practice in both private and public sector pharmacies. The scope of practice for PSPs allows them to work, under the direct personal supervision of a pharmacist, in four categories of pharmacies: • Community, • Institutional (private or public hospital), • Manufacturing and • Wholesale pharmacy provided that they are competent to practise and are appropriately registered with Council to practise in that category of pharmacy. Typical learners will be school leavers and those working in various categories of pharmacy, but with no formal qualification. Benefits to the learner include a nationally recognised qualification and part-qualifications that will improve current knowledge, skills and competencies in performing support functions in a pharmacy. Further, this qualification provides improved access to acquiring skills as full-time employment is no longer a requirement for registration of a learner. Lastly, the qualification makes provision for career-pathing and progression. Benefits to the country include the fact that this qualification will serve as a national benchmark for PSP at all three levels Basic, Post Basic and Pharmacy Technician besides, there will be improved utilisation of pharmacy human resources and an improvement in the quality of PSP. Society will benefit from an occupational qualification which, combined with its part qualifications will increase employment opportunities for many. The increased productive capacity of PSP means that the pharmacists are free to focus more on patient care.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: NQF Level 4 with Mathematics and Physical or Life Sciences.

• Apply basic scientific knowledge to provide technical support in delivering pharmaceutical services.
• Provide technical support for the receiving, storing, picking, packing and distributing orders. To perform stock counts and participate in stock-taking in compliance with cGMP, GWDP and GPP requirements.
• Provide technical support for the manufacture, packaging and re-packaging of non-sterile medicines and scheduled substances in compliance with GMP guidelines under the supervision of a Pharmacist.
• Provide technical support for the compounding, manipulation and preparation of non-sterile medicines and scheduled substances (extemporaneous compounding) in compliance with standards as described in the GPP rules and GMP guidelines under the supervision of a Pharmacist.