University of Cape Town Bachelor of Pharmacy

University of Cape Town b pharm course

Why Study Pharmacy?

Pharmacists play meaningful roles in the healthcare of people. They do this through emphasis on correct and rational use of medicines and related products. Pharmacists remain in high demand in the public and private sectors. The corporate part is expanding and demand for pharmacists continues. This applies to South Africa and other countries of the world.

What is the duration of the curriculum?

The curriculum extends over four years. After obtaining the B.Pharmacy degree an internship of one year (in community, hospital or industry) or two years (academic) ensues. This is followed by a compulsory year of community service in the public hospital sector as a fully fledged pharmacist.

Career opportunities with a B. Pharm degree

• Community Pharmacy – Pharmacists play key roles in communities. They dispense medicines, counsel patients on correct and rational use of medication, healthcare products and cosmetics, provide advise on health matters, perform diagnostic screening procedures and refer to other health care workers when there are indications for that. Often they assume positions of leadership in communities they serve.

Hospital Pharmacy – Pharmacists in this setting dispense medicines and counsel patients. They may also be involved in small-scale manufacture of specialized medicines such as radio-active pharmaceuticals, total parenteral nutrition preparations and injectables. The management of drug supplies is an important facet in this setting.
Industrial Pharmacy – An industrial pharmacist is involved in the manufacture, quality control, packaging, storage, registration and marketing of all types of medicines whether in liquid, semisolid and solid forms including tablets, suppositories, injections and syrups. They usually assume supervisory or other leadership positions in this arena.
Academic Pharmacy – This is for pharmacists interested in pursuing careers in academia. This involves teaching and training of university students, pursuing research interests of the individual, the institution and the profession, publications of completed research projects in accredited journals and presentations at conferences of such work. All this for the development and progress of the knowledge base and in this way contribute to the advancement of the pharmacy profession.
Other career options are – The detailing of medicines to prescribers and dispensers thereof on behalf of pharmaceutical companies by pharmaceutical representatives; The assistance in drug clinical trails as clinical research associates; Consultants to medical aids and other pharmaceutical institutions and businesses. Opportunities also exist in the field of regulatory and professional organizations associated with pharmacy such as the Medicines Control Council and The Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa. Pharmacists may also be usefully employed in the fields of cosmetics, food and beverages companies in manufacturing and marketing.

Skills acquired

Sound communication and writing skills
Interpersonal skills
Critical thinking abilities
Sound laboratory techniques

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Degrees

B. Pharmacy

M. Pharmacy

M. ScPharmacy Administrative and Policy Regulation

M. Sc Pharmaceutical Sciences

Ph.D

A BPharm degree at any South African University does not necessarily entitle one to register as a pharmacist in South Africa. A qualified person with a B Pharm degree is only permitted to work as a pharmacist upon registration with the South African Pharmacy Council. This requirement is supported by legislation and regulations promulgated as part of the national Department of Health. Foreign Workforce management is through arrangements by SADC and other bilateral agreements.

University of Cape Town Bachelor of Pharmacy