Pharmaceutical Employment Indaba

What is happening?

Pharmaceutical Employment Indaba

Like any other healthcare professional, pharmacists make a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the healthcare system by providing pharmaceutical care to patients. They ensure that the right medicine in the right dosage is given to the right patient at the right time.

Globally, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) report on Pharmacy Workforce Intelligence: Global Trends Report published in 2018 indicates a global mean of 73.6 pharmacists per 100,000 people to effectively provide pharmaceutical care to citizens. In South Africa, the population is estimated at 63 million people, and more than 17,000 pharmacists are registered with the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), resulting in a ratio of 27 pharmacists per 100,000 South African population. However, not all of the pharmacists appearing in the register are actively engaged in practicing the profession, as some may choose to uphold their registration despite being retired, not practicing, or emigrating.

Despite the South African ratio between population and pharmacist being far lower than the global mean, we continue to see pharmacy professionals without employment in the health sector. The trend is observed among graduates not being able to find internships, a lack of community service posts, and an inability to absorb post-community service pharmacists into the workforce.

The first to be blamed is the universities, which “oversupply” the profession with graduates. Yet, the universities are mandated to gear their infrastructures to deliver a set number of graduates per year, as per the country’s need expressed in the 2030 National Human Resources for Health Policy. However, are we at a tipping point where the ability of the healthcare sector (both public and private) to absorb new graduates is exceeded by the current output despite not reaching the global ratio?

This Pharmaceutical Employment Indaba aims to address critical pharmaceutical human resources (HR) issues through advocacy, collaboration, and contributing to policy development, ensuring that the profession can meet current and future health system needs.

After this session, attendees will be able to:

Understand the government’s view on Human Resources for Health from National policy, community service and provincial perspectives.
Understand the private sector’s view on Human Resources and employment.
Conceptualise pharmacy human resources from a statutory and higher education training perspective
Realize the reality of the unemployed pharmaceutical workforce.
Brainstorm together around finding solutions to ensure pharmaceutical employment.

Session chair:

Ms Refiloe Mogale (PSSA Executive Director)