Skills Development Providers

In terms of Section 3 of the Pharmacy Act, 53 of 1974, one of the legislative mandates of the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) is to establish, develop, maintain and control universally acceptable standards of pharmaceutical education. Furthermore, in terms of the provisions of sections 33 and 34 of the Pharmacy Act, 53 of 1974, the SAPC is required to approve pharmacy education and training that entitles a person to registration in terms of the Act. This is achieved by, inter alia, monitoring inspections of Skills Development Providers (SDPs).

The monitoring visits are conducted every three years for SDPs offering the occupational certificate qualification. SDPs accredited to offer the National Certificate: Pharmacist Assistance and Further Education and Training Certificate: Pharmacist Assistance are visited biennially. SDPs are required to complete and submit a Quality Management System document to the SAPC at least 30 days prior to a monitoring visit. The submitted document will be utilised as the institution’s self-assessment during the visit.

The SAPC developed the Accreditation/monitoring visit instrument for the SDPs offering the Occupational Certificate: Pharmacy Technician to complete and submit to Council at least 30 days prior to the visit. The submitted document will be utilised as the institution’s self-assessment during the visit. The SDPs offering the Occupational Certificate: Pharmacy Technician Council are visited every three years.

The panel members are trained on the accreditation/monitoring visit instrument and report writing, prior to conducting visits. Panel members are to declare conflict of interest and must sign a non-disclosure agreement.

The panel drafts the preliminary report during the visit and gives it to the head of school on the last day of the visit. The head of school is required to check the report for correctness and submit comments within a week.