Goal: to develop and maintain an adequate human resource base for NDP implementation at all levels

Objectives:

1. To significantly improve MoH headquarters pharmaceutical capacity to reflect the fundamental importance of pharmaceuticals in health service provision and to provide for the required future development and co-ordination of national pharmaceutical services

2. To ensure that adequate numbers of suitably trained and highly motivated personnel are available throughout the health system (public and private) for the effective implementation of the NDP

3. To ensure the continued motivation and further professional development of pharmaceutical professionals (ie. pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and dispensing assistants) in order to encourage their retention within the public health sector

4. To improve drug supply management capacity and performance in hospitals and the districts

5. To institute and maintain the application of good pharmaceutical practice in all relevant activities

Strategies:

1. Adequately support and strengthen MoH headquarters department of pharmaceutical services in order to provide for core functions including:

• monitoring and supervision of national pharmaceutical services
• direction and co-ordination of policy implementation
• effective policy review and further development

2. Identify pharmaceutical and other relevant human resources required (numbers, experience and skills) at all levels for the implementation of key NDP activities

3. Actively promote the training and recruitment of pharmaceutical professionals at all levels in order to manage the drug supply system and effectively implement the NDP. Ensure their continued motivation and retention through the provision of proper incentives, including:

• regular in-service training
• continuing professional education/development activities
• post-graduate training courses, etc.

4. Ensure the appropriate incorporation and coverage of NDP, PHC, ED/RDU and drug supply management concepts in the training curriculum of all health workers

5. Ensure that the formal curriculum of all pharmacy professionals includes the following elements:

• public health
• health policy
• drug supply management
• drug policy issues

6. Identify and develop mechanisms for the appropriate deployment of all pharmacy professionals which will ensure equitable distribution and provision of pharmaceutical services.

7. Identify and introduce a system of incentives to encourage health workers suitably trained in drug supply management to work in under-served areas

8. Increase the capacity of the districts and hospitals (referral, regional and district) to carry out effective drug supply management and to effectively implement relevant NDP activities, both in terms of numbers of staff and required skills

9. Establish posts for district pharmacists to be responsible for overall direction of pharmaceutical services in each district

10. Ensure that all those involved in dispensing activities in retail drug outlets have at least a basic training in good dispensing practice (see also 4.3)

11. Institute a system of continuing in-service training in NDP concepts and their practical application for all relevant health workers

12. All health professional councils should continue to set and refine standards of practice and training and should introduce a requirement for continuing competence/continuing professional development as a basis for the renewal of practice licenses and professional registration

13. Continuously monitor the pharmaceutical human resource situation, identify gaps, deficiencies and suitable solutions, and provide adequate support supervision in order to sustain effective implementation of the NDP

14. Identify centres of excellence and institute suitable arrangements to facilitate their effective collaboration in national pharmaceutical human resource development.