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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Master of Clinical Pharmacy 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
87486  Master of Clinical Pharmacy 
ORIGINATOR
Rhodes University 
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  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  256  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 EXCO 0417/23  2018-07-01  2018-12-31 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31   2022-12-31  

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 aim of the Master of Pharmacy programme is to prepare specialised pharmacy professionals who will be competent to make a significant contribution to the achievement of the relevant objectives of the National Health Policy.

The candidate will be competent to provide professional clinical services at a specialist level and manage professional clinical and health related systems at this level.

The candidate will be eligible to be appointed as a specialist in the Health Services or follow an academic career as a tutor in clinical pharmacy, starting at the level of lecturer/senior lecturer according to circumstances. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree or equivalent. Registration with the South African Pharmacy Council. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
Core, 240 credits.
Electives, 16 Credits.

Total Credits: 256.

Duration:

Two academic years. 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
The candidate will be able to:

1. Deliver professional pharmaceutical services in the specialised field of study.
2. Provide evidence of specialised knowledge of a major discipline.
3. Analyse, transform and evaluate data and concepts.
4. Create appropriate responses to resolve contextually related problems.
5. Provide meaningful contribution to the design of new, creative systems and drug therapies based on sound principles.

Specific Outcomes:

On completion of the programme, the candidate will have the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to:

1. Manage pharmaceutical care systems:
  • Analyse information in order to identify ongoing or potential drug-related problems and the root cause of the problem.
  • Plan and perform ongoing patient evaluation to identify additional drug-related problems and implementing changes in the pharmaceutical care plan.
  • Interpret and evaluate pharmaceutical data and related information needed to prevent or resolve medication-related problems or to respond to information requests.
  • Collaborate with physicians, other health care professionals, patients, and/or their caregivers to formulate a pharmaceutical care plan.
  • Implement the pharmaceutical care plan.
  • Document pharmaceutical care activity in the patient's medical record to facilitate communication and collaboration among providers.
  • Display the attitudes, habits, and values required to render pharmaceutical care.

    2. Manage the Practice system:
  • Manage Pharmacy Operating systems.
  • Manage Medication Distribution and Control Systems.
  • Manage Human Resources.
  • Manage Facilities and Equipment.
  • Manage Fiscal Resources.
  • Manage Change in Response to Professional Evolution.

    3. Manage Medication Use Systems:
  • Manage the pharmaceutical care system's process for reporting and managing medication errors and adverse drug reactions.
  • Manage the pharmaceutical care systems process for conducting drug use evaluations.
  • Implement, evaluate and modify a formulary system.

    4. Manage Public Health systems:
  • Manage systems to identify and respond to health and disease trends.
  • Manage systems to promote public awareness of health and disease.

    5. Provide Drug Information and Education:
  • Provide specialised pharmaceutical information to health professionals and the general public.
  • Design, develop, and present educational materials tailored to the needs and educational background of a given audience. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Learners will be required to provide evidence of their competence to apply specialised knowledge. They will be assessed in terms of their ability to solve complex problems in appropriate contexts. Assessors will evaluate this evidence in terms of its validity, reliability, authenticity, complexity and sufficiency. The criteria are formulated in accordance with specific outcomes. Accordingly, candidates will be expected to demonstrate their ability to:
  • Manage pharmaceutical systems which ensure that the appropriate drugs are available and that they are used rationally in such a way as to improve the quality of life.
  • Implement clinical services which would include the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of pharmaco-therapeutic guidelines and patient-specific pharmaco-therapy.
  • Provide specialised, drug information and pharmaco-therapeutic education to other health professionals.
  • Implementing drug use policies, formularies and rational treatment protocols to rationalise and control drug use.

    Integrated Assessment:

    This course has two major components - a distance learning web-based course and on-site collaboration at an approved clinical site. Continuous formative assessment will be provided with the major emphasis on observations, interviews and written documentation such as case studies and portfolios. Summative assessment will use these techniques together with assignments and a research report which is based on case studies in an area relevant to the needs of the clinical site.

    On-site assessment will be undertaken by on-site tutors, and honorary associates/fellows appointed by the University in accordance with the University guidelines. Web-based assessment will be undertaken by trained academicians. These assessors will be experts in their particular fields and will be qualified assessors. The assessment process will be guided by the University's Assessment policy.

    Final assessment will be undertaken by two external examiners, at least one of which will be from an internationally recognised training institution.

    The following quality assurance procedures form part of the overall evaluation and accreditation system:
  • At least one internal supervisor/examiner.
  • At least two external examiners.
  • Requirements and guidelines of the higher education quality assurance bodies (HEQC committee and SAQA).
  • Requirements and guidelines of Rhodes University as contained in the Higher Degrees Guide.
  • Rhodes University policies on Assessment, Curriculum Development, Evaluation and the Supervision of Postgraduates.

    Quality assurance will be reinforced by process and outcome monitoring by the course co-ordinator. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    The Master of Pharmacy: Clinical Pharmacy is offered as an exit qualification to candidates that register for a Doctor of Pharmacy but are unable to continue with their studies. Successful completion of the courses offered in this programme will lead to entrance to the Doctor of Pharmacy programme. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Assessors will be registered with the South African Pharmacy Council (accredited ETQA). 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    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. Rhodes University 


    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.