The responsible provision of drug therapy by pharmacists, to achieve definite outcomes that improve a patient's quality of life i.e. pharmaceutical care, is the cornerstone of professional practice for pharmacists. I view pharmaceutical care as extending beyond clinical practice, I find application for it throughout the pharmaceutical the value chain, from good practices in manufacturing, testing and trials to distribution and storage, right through to the patient. This is because regardless of the sector, responsible drug therapy which encompasses safety, efficacy and quality should be at the forefront of all we do as a profession.
Pharmaceutical care was best demonstrated at the hight of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients flocked to pharmacies for mild symptom management; the human centred practice of the profession found expression through increased home deliveries, pre-packing medicines for collection, listening to tales of loved ones struggles with the disease during the hard lock down when human interaction was at an all time low.
Pharmacists were and continue to be an integral part of the health care team in hospitals and at primary health care facilities. In South Africa, pharmacists are integral in the manufacture and distribution of medicines and vaccines, a critical function that ensured that what was prescribed for patients, was available for administration.
At the Pharmacy Department of the Nelson Mandela University, we take pride in our ability to transfer our expertise in all sectors of pharmacy to our students. We are mostly proud of the clinical pharmacy skills that our graduates attain. We have strong relationships with industry partners, this gives students a unique glimpse into the world of pharmaceutical manufacturing. Along with these clinical and technical skills, team work, compassion and care for our fellow man are instilled.
Welcome to our department, we look forward to walking the BPharm journey with you.