Master of Pharmacy

The purpose of the qualification is to produce graduates with specialist training in the branch of Clinical Hospital Pharmacy who are competent in:

• Custodians of medicine
• Distributors and controllers of safe, effective, and quality medicine
• Providers of referral services
• Providers of health care education and information

In addition, the qualification will also produce graduates with research expertise, which includes the ability to evaluate and implement research findings in the practice of the branch of specialisation and the ability to guide junior candidates if the graduate is in an educational setting. Hence, graduates have competence in the practice of a specialist field and can contribute to the need for specialist practice and research skills in Pharmacy in South Africa.

Hence, graduates have competence in the practice of a specialist field and can contribute to the need for primary, secondary, and tertiary health care in South Africa. The specialist fields include pharmaceutical care, Clinical Laboratory Tests, Pharmacokinetics, Psychopharmacotherapy, and the following Pharmacotherapeutic fields: Infectious Diseases, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, Renal, and Oncology.

Rationale

The qualification equips graduates with advanced skills in specialist pharmaceutical practice in the South African Health Care Sector. In this way, the qualification meets the needs of the South African health care services to provide specialist-level care and address the burden of disease within the country.

The qualification enables the graduate to seek employment in the areas of

• Community pharmacy
• Industrial pharmacy
• Managed health care
• Academia and research

Typical learners who enrol in this qualification are already qualified Pharmacists and are seeking further specialisation in the fields of Pharmaceutics or Pharmacology. Learners graduating in Pharmaceutics will have specialised in the formulation of drugs for optimal delivery, and those in pharmacology will have specialised in studying the physiological and biochemical effects of drugs. Qualifying learners may proceed to Doctoral studies.

Recognition Of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy, which is applicable with regard to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules, and credits towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal, and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations, should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption from modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module and accepted.

Entry Qualifications

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Pharmacy, NQF Level 8.

This qualification comprises of compulsory modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

Compulsory module, NQF Level 9, 180 Credits

• Dissertation, 180 Credits.

1. Demonstrate competence in drug knowledge, application, and health care strategies at an advanced level
2. Evaluate, teach, and implement research findings in the practice of the branch specialisation.
3. Apply ethical, compassionate, and skilled ability to conduct all aspects of specialist pharmacy practice, both in relation to the care of individuals and of populations.
4. Assess the principles and practice of pharmacy from the basic to the advanced level and can train others in the specialty.
5. Demonstrate self-direction and independence in his or her learning to become a lifelong learner, and will recognise personal education needs, utilise appropriate learning situations, and evaluate her or his own progress.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Select appropriate medicines for the relief and control of acute and chronic medical conditions
• Counsel patients effectively concerning their disease
• Prescribe suitable quantities of medicine to patients
• Use problem-solving techniques, which draw on a multi-faceted knowledge, to arrive at a diagnosis for a patient
• Communicate efficiently and effectively with the patient, other health care workers, and the community, e.g., to obtain a history, to communicate a treatment regimen, and to explain the medical condition

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Show research expertise through the production of a research report or dissertation which demonstrates skills including the research methodology, ability to evaluate research, review literature, design and perform a study, collect data, perform and interpret statistical analyses on data, interpret results, and draw conclusions
• Conduct all research with due regard for the moral, legal, and ethical accountability and requirements of the profession
• Practice "Evidence-based pharmacy" by critically evaluating all the published literature in the field and applying it to practice
• Guide junior candidates who are studying or working in the same branch of specialisation

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Show respect for patients and colleagues without prejudice, with an understanding and appreciation of their diversities of background and opportunity, language, and culture
• Refer patients to practitioners who are more appropriately qualified than he or she to treat certain conditions
• Demonstrate an awareness, through actions or in writing, of the moral, legal, and ethical responsibilities involved in individual patient care and the provision of care to populations

� Consider both the impact of health care on the environment as well as the impact of the environment on health

� Strive to improve patient care, to reduce inequalities in health care delivery, to optimise the use of health care resources in our society and use his or her professional capabilities to contribute to the community as well as to individual patient welfare by the practice of pharmacy.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

� Teach the application of knowledge from the basic to the advanced level to other professionals

� Communicate this knowledge by teaching more junior colleagues in the specialty

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

� Use appropriate strategies for learning that will prepare them for continued professional development throughout life, both as a pharmacist and as a responsible citizen

� Take responsibility for continued professional development (CPD) to keep up to date with new developments

� Identify personal limitations and develop the capacity of self-audit and participate in the peer review process, showing willingness to seek help when necessary.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

The degree is by dissertation only; this serves as the medium for integrated assessment. The protocol is the first form of assessment assessed by assessors from the faculty. The progress of the research is continuously assessed by the supervisor, who will provide feedback. The final dissertation will be examined by an internal and external examiner.

The assessment criteria for each ELO will be addressed in the dissertation. Research methodologies will be assessed based on research design, research setting, data analysis, and understanding of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodologies. The ethical components will be assessed based on ethical principles, scientific validity, justice, non-maleficence, beneficence and informed consent.