SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Clinical Pharmacy 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
101703  Master of Clinical Pharmacy 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Preventive Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The pharmacy profession is committed to ensuring the safe and effective use of medications. Over the past few decades the professional roles and responsibilities of pharmacists have evolved from a focus on medication compounding and dispensing to pharmaceutical care services.

Pharmacists are taking responsibility for individual patient's medicine related needs, ensuring that a patient's drug therapy is appropriately indicated, the most effective available, the safest possible and convenient for the patient.

A pharmaceutical care practitioner, in the South African healthcare sector, needs to take responsibility in developing a pharmaceutical care practice, ultimately optimising patient care, through the training of healthcare workers in pharmaceutical care, ensuring rational medicine use and establishing a sound evidence-based therapeutic approach to patient care. The implementation of an effective pharmaceutical care practice is crucial to ensure an increase in the level of healthcare service delivered at institutions in South Africa.

Rationale:
The National Core Standards allows for the development and establishment of the clinical pharmacist profession. Moving towards a National Health Insurance will also force the current pharmacy profession to expand its roles and functions. In recent times clinical pharmacist positions have been established in some public hospitals with the aim to improve patient safety, to ensure rational medicines use and to reduce expenditure on unnecessary medicines.

The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) is also currently working on regulation for the registration of specialities in Pharmacy. One of these is the Clinical Pharmacists for which the minimum requirement will include a Master's level qualification in Clinical Pharmacy.

The institution therefore sees it as strategically important to establish this qualification. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Access to the qualification can also be provided in terms of the university's RPL policy and its admission criteria stipulated by Senate. In the RPL process students have to undergo a Portfolio Development Course (PDC) to support the student's admission. The PDC will focus on written submission explaining the reasons for the candidates' interest in Clinical Pharmacy as an adjunct to their existing professional competencies and indicating the nature of a possible research project.

Entry Requirements:
The admission requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree, Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory and elective modules at Level 9, totalling 360 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 300 Credits:
  • Research Methods, 15 Credits.
  • Introduction to Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care, 25 Credits.
  • Evidence Based Medicine, Rational Medicine Use and Pharmacovigilance, 30 Credits.
  • Applied Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacoepidemology, 25 Credits.
  • Applied Pharmacokinetics, 25 Credits.
  • Advanced Pharmaceutical Care-Adult Medicine, 30 Credits.
  • Advanced Pharmaceutical Care-Paediatrics, 30 Credits.
  • Mini thesis in clinical Pharmacy, 120 Credits.

    Elective Modules, Level 9, 60 Credits:
  • Advanced Pharmaceutical Care-HIV/AIDS, 30 Credits.
  • Advanced Pharmaceutical Care-Uncology, 30 Credits.
  • Advanced Pharmaceutical Care-Critical Care Medicine, 30 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Monitor patient health outcomes in the health care setting.
    2. Demonstrate the ability to communicate and educate.
    3. Evaluate and manage medical information.
    4. Manage patient populations.
    5. Demonstrate knowledge of areas of therapeutic.
    6. Conduct Research in the Field of Clinical Pharmacy. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Assess patient-specific medical and drug related problems.
  • Evaluate patient-specific drug therapy and therapeutic problems.
  • Design a comprehensive drug therapy plan for patient specific problems.
  • Collaborate with patients, caregivers, and other health care professionals in optimising therapeutic outcomes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Educate patients with regard to treatment options and therapeutic outcomes.
  • Interact and educate other health care professionals to optimise medicine management.
  • Motivate and negotiate in order to optimise treatment.
  • Document drug related interventions in the patient medical record.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Demonstrate the motivation and commitment to become a lifelong learner.
  • Retrieve biomedical literature using appropriate search strategies.
  • Interpret biomedical literature with regard to study design, methodology, statistical analysis, significance of reported data, and conclusions.
  • Integrate data obtained from multiple sources to derive an overall conclusion or answer.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Evaluate patient safety and drug therapy.
  • Identify and evaluate critical disease pathways.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Apply disease-oriented knowledge of the areas of Adult Medicine, Paediatrics and HIV/AIDS, or Oncology or Critical Care Demonstrate competence in the pharmacotherapy of common adult and paediatric conditions.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Plan a research project, manage the research, implement findings, analyse data and report on the project by submitting a mini dissertation.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Criteria to be satisfied by the student before awarding of the Degree include the following:
  • Completed two calendar years as a registered student for the programme.
  • Obtain at least 50% in each of his/her modular tests during course as well as a final assessment of 50% comprised of 50% of the Coursework mark and 50% of the examination mark.
  • Write the examination papers covering the modules as prescribed in the module descriptors.
  • Submission of the mini-thesis. Successful completion of the mini- thesis is a prerequisite for awarding the Degree.

    The report of the external examiners must indicate that the student is capable of:
  • Planning research.
  • Applying a thorough literature study to the research topic.
  • Perform the research.
  • Apply elementary statistical principles.
  • Analyse results and arrive at meaningful conclusions. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Curtin University in Western Australia offers a Master of Pharmacy (Clinical Pharmacy).

    The qualification consists of the following modules:
  • Health Research Methods.
  • Drug Information.
  • Pharmaceutical Formulation.
  • Clinical Pharmacy.
  • Pharmacoeconomics.
  • Clinical Pharmacokinetics.
  • Clinical Pharmacy.
  • Clinical Pharmacy Project.
  • Oncology.
  • Paediatric Pharmacy.
  • Drug Monitoring.

    University College of Cork (Ireland) offers a M.Sc Clinical Pharmacy.

    Year I: 30 credits as follows:
  • Biostatistics/Critical Appraisal (5 credits).
  • Pharmacotherapy I (15 credits).
  • Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Rational Use of Drugs (10 credits).

    Year II: 30 credits as follows:
  • Pharmacoeconomics (5 credits).
  • Pharmacotherapy II (15 credits).
  • Pharmacotherapy III (10 credits).

    Upon completion of the above 60 credits students may opt to be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy, or may complete a research project/thesis (Thesis 30 credits) to be conferred with the MSc in Clinical Pharmacy.

    The University of Queensland (Australia) offers a Master of Clinical Pharmacy (MClinPharm):
  • Advanced Skills for Clinical Pharmacy Practice.
  • Evaluation and research in Pharmacy practice.
  • Pharmacotherapy in Patient Care I.
  • Pharmacists in the Modern Health System.
  • Leading and Managing the Future in Pharmacy Practice.
  • Pharmacotherapy in Patient Care II.
  • Masters research project.

    University of Otago (New Zeeland) offers a Master of Clinical Pharmacy (MClinPharm).

    The Master of Clinical Pharmacy (MClinPharm) degree comprises both advanced-level taught papers and a research component and is designed for registered pharmacists working in professional areas such as community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and industrial pharmacy who require advanced level knowledge and research skills to progress their careers.
  • Research Methods.
  • Advanced Clinical Pharmacy.
  • Research Dissertation.

    Conclusion:
    The Master of Pharmacy: Advanced Clinical Pharmacy compares favourably with the four international qualifications indicated. The focus of all these qualifications is to produce a specialist clinical pharmacist who is capable of providing advanced pharmaceutical services in hospitals and other clinical environments, thereby enhancing the control and quality use of all types of medication. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers only a vertical systemic articulation options, provided the learner meets the requirements.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy Studies, Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of the Western Cape 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.