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HEALTHCARE FRATERNITY BENEFITS FROM HEALTHCARE ACADEMY PROGRAMME

Published: 2008-06-11

Healthcare students from all around South Africa are benefiting tremendously from the training programmes that Clicks Pharmacy is offering. In 2002 Clicks unveiled the Pharmacy Healthcare Academy in Johannesburg to provide the pharmaceutical fraternity with accredited professionals and other qualified staff. Thus far nearly 600 students have successfully qualified as Pharmacist’s Assistants from the institution. Many of these students had been unemployed when they were recruited to become qualified Pharmacist Assistants. 

This further seals the Clicks commitment to consumer satisfaction and the pharmacy professions.

The Pharmacy Healthcare Academy provides pharmacies on a national scale with qualified Pharmacist Assistants. The Academy also runs a Continuing Professional Development programme for Pharmacists and Nursing Practitioners who operate in store clinics. Says Willie Jordaan, Head of Clicks Professional Services, “The Pharmacy Healthcare Academy is committed to ensuring quality learning and development programmes for Pharmacist Assistants, Pharmacists and Nursing Practitioners, that meet all required standards, and also provides an environment conducive to learning and continuing professional development.”
The Pharmacist Assistant programme includes compulsory theoretical as well as practical training. This takes place under the close supervision of a dedicated pharmacist-tutor, provided both the pharmacist and training site are registered with the South African Pharmacy Council. 

Qualified Pharmacy Assistant, Ntsi Sealetsa added, “My experience at the Pharmacy Healthcare Academy was very positive as I enjoyed learning in the workplace. I found the Academy communication regarding administrative matters, learning support and guidance excellent. In addition my workplace learning was great due to the way in which the dispensary team helped facilitate my learning.”

Learner Pharmacist Assistants are required to attend and participate in regular contact sessions. The purpose of these sessions is to review the learner’s progress, share ideas and identify as well as resolve stumbling blocks.

Constant change in dispensing systems as well as medication, demands that pharmacy professionals stay abreast, in order to provide the quality care the consumer deserves. Pharmacy Healthcare Academy offers Continuing Professional Development that enables dispensary professionals to continually raise the standards of quality service. 

This subsidised programme ensures that Clicks Pharmacy meets the licensure requirements of the South African Pharmacy Council. The Academy’s CPD learning modules focus on staying abreast of latest developments in different pharmaceutical fields. Participants must achieve specific predetermined outcomes through acquiring new knowledge and skills. The success of this programme lies in participants’ implementation of learning in the workplace, according to specified criteria, and systematic recording of the evidence where relevant. 

“Clicks Pharmacy, through the Pharmacy Healthcare Academy, has taken a stand to provide pharmacy professionals with the most current information and proactive training programmes, equipping them with the ability to assist patients with appropriate advice and tools to take control of their health,” concluded Jordaan.

Issued on behalf of Martin Broodryk 
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