VACANCY Postdoctoral Fellowship: Pharmacovigilance in Southern Africa Initiative
24 February 2026
Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems in Africa
2026 Modules (July to November)
Pharmaceuticals are critical components of health systems and are central to achieving universal health coverage and equity.The growing challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the high burden of HIV and TB, and the increasing prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases demand innovative, evidence-informed and multidisciplinary approaches to managing pharmaceuticals, vaccines and other medical products across African health systems.
There is an urgent need to build new competencies and leadership capacity to ensure the availability, acceptability, affordability, quality and appropriate use of essential medical products within complex and resource-constrained settings. Strengthening these dimensions is fundamental to improving health outcomes, protecting the effectiveness of existing therapies, and advancing equitable access to care.
These Masters-level modules may be taken as individual stand-alone modules or as part of the Master of Public Health (MPH) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa.
Both modules run over one semester (approximately 15 weeks) and include: Online learning materials:
- Webinars
- Discussion forums
- Weekly activities
- Two written assignments
Each module carries 15 credits (150 learning hours) at Masters level.
Students who complete a stand-alone module will receive an official UWC transcript reflecting earned credits.
Pharmaceutical Policy and Management (PPM) Module
Focus Areas
- Pharmaceutical policy analysis
- Policy development and implementation
- Quality of medical products
- Procurement and supply systems
- Human resources
- Antimicrobials within health systems
Target Group
Current and future policymakers Policy advisors and managers Consultants
Academics interested in pharmaceutical systems and policy implementation
Rational Medicines Use (RMU) Module
Focus Areas
- Principles of rational medicine use
- Tools to assess and promote appropriate medicine use
- Antimicrobial use
- Medicine use in non-communicable diseases
Target Group
- Pharmacists
- Doctors
- Nurses
For more information and the application form contact:
Module Fees
PPM Fees:
South African applicants (including African citizens): R5,570 (approx. US $350) International applicants: R17,690 (approx. US $1,000)
RMU Fees:
South African applicants (including African citizens): R5,860 (approx. US $350) International applicants: R18,960 (approx. US $1,000)
Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold a relevant professional qualification at the Bachelor’s Honours level (equivalent to South African NQF 8).
If your qualification was obtained outside of South Africa, you must apply for a Certificate of Evaluation from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before starting the module.
Given that this process can take several months, it is strongly recommended to apply to SAQA as early as possible.
Application Deadline
Application deadline is 14 June 2026