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How Aggressive Recruitment and Training of Pharmacists and Pharmacist’s Assistants is Being Utilized to Improve Management of Drug Supplies. ICIUM CONFERENCE 2004 Chiang Mai, Thailand Ms Lullu Peteni & Ms Sizi Qolohle Eastern Cape Province South Africa. Background. Before 2002:
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How Aggressive Recruitment and Training of Pharmacists and Pharmacist’s Assistants is Being Utilized to Improve Management of Drug Supplies ICIUM CONFERENCE 2004 Chiang Mai, Thailand Ms Lullu Peteni & Ms Sizi Qolohle Eastern Cape Province South Africa
Background Before 2002: • 90 hospitals provincially • 53 pharmacists in Public Sector • 60% of population in the Eastern part • Only 4 Pharmacists in this area • The rest of Pharmacists in the western part of the Province where only 40 % of the population is
Background contd. • Head of Pharmaceutical Services a Deputy Director • Principal Pharmacist seconded to Provincial office since 1995 • Chief Pharmacist in western part of Province • Hospitals with no Pharmacy Managers • Pharmacists long serving with no career, notch & rank progression for years • Pharmacy Support staff with no training, rank or career progression • Lots of dissatisfaction, lack of commitment, accountability & interest in the profession
Background contd. Come 2002: • Head of Pharmaceutical Services a Director • 2 Deputy Directors at Provincial office • Hospital Complex Pharmacy Managers in the 3 major centres • Control posts at Chief Pharmacist level for Hospitals • Local Service Areas managed by District Pharmacist at Chief Pharmacist level • Promotion to those deserving Pharmacists • Retention of Community Service Pharmacist at attractive & competitive salary levels • Filled vacant Pharmacist posts, including the Depots • Pharmacy Support Staff registered, trained & put on the category Pharmacist’s Assistants
Recruitment Process • Job Evaluation Done by Work study • Creation of Control Posts • Hospital Pharmacy Manager • District Pharmacist • Complex Pharmacy Manager • Policy Decisions • Improving entry point for Community Service Pharmacists (Upgrade to competitive salary level) • Pharmacy Support staff placed in Pharmaceutical Services structure as Pharmacist’s Assistants
Recruitment Process • Funding for identified critical posts • Advertisement • Pharmaceutical Journal • Access by all Pharmacists (9 provinces) • Wider Pool of people targeted • Posts available in all hospitals (EC Province)
Training • Pharmacists • Induction Programme for new recruits • Drug Supply Management (Selection, Procurement, Distribution, Rational Drug Use) • Legislative Framework • Human Resource Management • Tools • Stock Card Management • Drug Management Information Systems • RX Store • Infomaker • District Health Information System • Drugs and Therapeutics Committees • Financial Management & Budgeting • Rational Drug Use Programme
Training • Pharmacist’s Assistants • Initiated in South Africa to address human resource needs in public sector • Before Intervention • In-service non-accredited course • Legislation Requirements • Intervention • Accredited Course • Assessment every 6 weeks if ready • Duration at least 12 months
Pharmacist’s Assistants Training- Challenges • Availability of pharmacists as tutors and assessors • Approval of revolving pharmacist mentor concept by South African Pharmacy Council • Approval of training facilities • Funding for training • Developing guidelines for learner selection criteria • Learners placed on developed career path • Linking Programme to Pharmacy as Degree
Critical Success Factors • Upgrading of Head of Pharmaceutical Services to Director Availability of funds for Critical posts • Improved salary packages • Fully functional Provincial Office • Political will by Head Of Dept & MEC • Good working relations with colleagues Provincially- HR, Treasury, Premier’s office • Evaluation of posts & subsequent creation of control posts • Access to Donor Funds – EQUITY & SADAP • Centralization of Recruitment process • Ring fencing of drug budget
IMPACT OF INTERVENTION • Expenditure of drug budget stabilised • More accountability by Pharmacy staff • Improved working conditions • Career progression implemented • Posts created & filled • Better management of stock & less stock outs