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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

National Certificate: Basic Level Pharmacist Assistance

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
82026	National Certificate: Basic Level Pharmacist Assistance
ORIGINATOR
General SGB 09
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
The individual Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary for each Learning Programme recorded against this qualification is shown in the table at the end of this report.			SFAP - Sub-framework Assignment Pending
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National Certificate	Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Preventive Health
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	131	Level 3	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L3	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 0480/09	2009-07-01	2010-08-20
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-08-20		2013-08-20

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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
72049	National Certificate: Pharmacist Assistance	Level 3	NQF Level 03	140	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The objective of this course is to train pharmacist's assistants to assist pharmacists in the provision of a pharmaceutical service according to the scope of practice outlined by the South African Pharmacy Council for basic level pharmacist assistant. This certificate will lead to registration as a basic level pharmacist assistant. The target learner group includes currently employed Auxiliary Service Personnel. The National Health and Drug Policies require the development of human resources in the healthcare sector. This course has been developed in line with these requirements, to provide the training and qualifications needed for registration of the pharmacist assistants with the South African Pharmacy Council at the basic level. The certificate will be awarded to candidates demonstrating competence in the unit standards relevant to each particular sector (community, hospital, industry and wholesale/distribution pharmacy The certificate has been developed based on the Unit Standards for Basic Level Pharmacists Assistants registered on the NQF on 17 May 2000. The learnership programme has been submitted to the South African Pharmacy Council for accreditation as the Education and Training Quality Assurance body in terms of the provisions of the South African Qualifications Authority Act (Act 58 of 1995) and the Pharmacy Act (Act 53 of 1974) as amended. Provide unscheduled and schedule 1 medicines directly to patients upon request of the pharmacist or patient and give instructions regarding the correct usage thereof Plan, implement and perform basic marketing functions, tasks or activities in the community pharmacy according to pharmacy policies and requirements Maintain pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical product stock levels and check for expired or damaged stock or stock that has been withdrawn from the market, including ordering, receipt, control, record keeping and storage thereof Provide basic primary health education to individuals in order to promote and maintain good health and prevent disease Promote communication by and with a patient and or customer in the execution of the functions described Collect and maintain the necessary records, statistics and information. Provide pharmacy products in a hospital pharmacy Assist with the manufacturing of a non-sterile medicine or scheduled substance according to a formula and standard operating procedures approved by the responsible pharmacist Pack and repackage medicines Assist with the compounding, manipulation or preparation of a non or scheduled substance according to a formula and standard operating procedures approved by the responsible pharmacist

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Learners who register for this qualification will have reading, writing, listening and speaking skills equivalent to Grade 10 and must be competent in numeracy at ABET level 4 as determined by a qualified assessor. Recognition of prior learning: This qualification may be achieved in whole or in part through the recognition of prior learning.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

Y

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification can be completed with one of the following specialisations: Community Sector Institutional Sector Wholesale Sector Manufacturing Sector

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Critical Cross-field Outcomes: 1. Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made 2. Work effectively with others as a member of a team or group 3. Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively 4. Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information 5. Communicate effectively using visual mathematical and or language skills either orally or written 6. Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others 7. Demonstrate understanding of the world as a set of related systems 8. Contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large Specific outcomes The learner will be able to: Provide health advice, information and pharmacy products directly to the consumer in a community pharmacy Market pharmaceutical products Control stock Manufacture and compound pharmaceutical products Pack pharmaceutical products Control and distribute finished pharmacy products Collect information for research purposes Provide pharmacy products in a hospital pharmacy The primary aim of pharmacist's assistant education is to train life long learners who can assist the pharmacist to provide a professional service to the community using their knowledge, skills, professional thinking, behaviour and attitudes as caring providers of health care resources. On completion of the certificate programme, the learner must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, professional thinking, behaviour and attitudes. KNOWLEDGE OUTCOMES: Use of science and technology to manufacture, compound, distribute medicines Identification and provision of pharmaceutical services at a basic level, their processes and their environmental and social determinants Basic principles of disease prevention and health promotion, with emphasis on primary health care as an integral part of the health care team Principles of drug procurement, storage and distribution and appropriateness of different drug logistical systems including appropriate and cost-effective use of record keeping and monitoring procedures Basic business and pharmacy marketing aspects of the provision of health care at national, community and individual practice level How to solve problems that arise with the provision of drugs and how to predict, identify, prevent and or treat such problems Human behaviour, relationships and communication, individually and in the context of the community Ethical and legal issues relevant to the practice of pharmacy The promotion and delivery of cost effective health care The principles and procedures governing the collection of information for research purposes, with particular emphasis on the logistic aspects of medicines SKILLS Pharmacy workplace skills including marketing, sales and customer care Technical skills and procedures, including manufacturing, packaging, supply data collection and provision of information Basic computer skills Communication skills, interpersonal skills and language proficiency The ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team ATTITUDINAL AND BEHAVIOURAL OUTCOMES Respect for patients and colleagues, without prejudice with regard to race, culture, gender etc Recognition of human and patient's rights A positive approach to self-directed life long learning A positive approach towards primary health care An awareness of moral and ethical responsibilities A desire to ensure the provision of pharmaceutical services care of the highest possible quality An awareness of personal limitations and a willingness to seek help when necessary A positive attitude towards change and functioning within the pharmacy environment A positive attitude towards the advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. Solve problems by means of exploring and critically evaluating abstract and personal situations 2. Solve problems by generating alternative strategies for dealing with those problems 3. Demonstrate organisation and management skills and effective communication with others 4. Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information 5. Show the use of science and technology effectively and critically. These are given below against the specific criteria As given in the South African Pharmacy Council's 'Unit Standards for Basic and Post Basic Level Pharmacists' Assistants' - December 1999, including but not limited to: Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles, theories and classification systems used in medicines and the human body, general health care, relevant pharmacy legislation, good pharmacy practice, business orientation and consumer requirements Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of the human body, pharmaceutical dosage forms and mathematics Demonstrate an understanding of the basic of the principles of the manufacture, packaging and distribution of medicines Demonstrate the use equipment in a community pharmacy and use computers for retail applications Describe the principles of communication, retail sales, marketing and consumer orientated services, resource management in different pharmacy practice settings, conduct marketing research the procurement and storage of medicines and the distribution of medicines directly to the consumer Describe the role of pharmacists' assistants and pharmacists in the South African health care system, the principles and processes guiding the management of a community pharmacy organisation and patients Explain factors influencing disease prevention and promoting well being in health within the South African context Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles in a range of health conditions which are encountered in primary health care in the community pharmacy Provide relevant patient information, inform, educate and counsel patients about health related matters and refer appropriate health problems encountered to the pharmacist in the community pharmacy in compliance with appropriate legislation and ethics Relate learning gained from individual experience to knowledge encountered in pharmaceutical manufacturing environment, and vice versa Relate learning from experience and academic contexts to different contexts using present and future scenarios INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT Assessment in the programme is based on integrated and continuing assessment with due consideration of the following principles: Learning is best achieved when the learner is able to set the relevance of the concept Learning is improved through reflective practice where the learner is given the opportunity to apply concepts and reflect on what has been learnt Learning is enhanced if the learner is provided with the opportunity for regular assessment, which informs his/her learning Small group discussion is an important feature of learning since it enables the learner to express doubts and build up confidence in a non-threatening environment Learners acquire insight into the assessment criteria which are considered important when asked their own assessment and the assessment of peers Assessment takes place through the assessment of the relevant unit standards and through assignments, with emphasis on continuous holistic assessment during the learning programme. Assessment entails 3 elements: Formal end of course assessment Continuing formal assessment Continuing informal assessment Formative and Summative assessments are integrated. The following quality assurance procedures form part of the overall evaluation and accreditation system: Internal assessors, examiners and moderators External assessors, examiners and moderators Accreditation requirements and guidelines of the South African Pharmacy Council Requirements and guidelines of the further education and training quality assurance bodies (SAQA requirements) An internal review as part of the relevant quality assurance systems Internal tutor training. Evidence will be given by means of evaluation and assessment against the assessment criteria in the Unit Standards for Basic Level Pharmacist's Assistants utilising: Informal continuing evaluations (e.g. Tutorials, observations) Formal continuing evaluation (e.g. Assignments and oral evaluations) Formal end evaluations e.g. (Theoretical - written and assignments, presentations and portfolios

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

This qualification compares positively with international Pharmacists' Assistant qualification programmes with similar outcomes.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

The basic level pharmacist assistants course would enable the learner to move between the community (retail), hospital, industry or distribution sectors by the simple completion of the sector specific modules for the sectors not yet completed. The qualifications toward which the Basic Level Pharmacists Assistant may proceed include the Post-Basic Level Pharmacist Assistance course, pre-university bridging course and then finally the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy offered at various pharmacy schools at universities in South Africa.

MODERATION OPTIONS

A system of internal and external moderators will be used. Where professional or statutory bodies are involved in determining the curriculum, they will also be involved in moderation.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Our own staff will be used as assessors in a manner accommodated within the quality management system of our training institution. This would apply to outside assessors as well, who may be contracted for their specific expertise in certain fields.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2009.

NOTES

This qualification has been replaced by 72049, which is "National Certificate: Pharmacist Assistance", Level 3, 140 credits.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

LP ID	Learning Programme Title	Originator	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Learning Prog End Date	Quality Assurance Functionary	NQF Sub-Framework
17101	National Certificate: Pharmacists' Assistance	Health Science Academy (Pty) Ltd	Level 3	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L3	131	2008-08-20	Was SAPC until Last Date for Achievement	OQSF

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THESE LEARNING PROGRAMMES:

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.

NONE

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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.