Pharmaceuticals are critical components of health systems and challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance, the high burden of HIV and TB, as well as increasing chronic non- communicable diseases, have highlighted the need for innovative approaches to manage pharmaceuticals and other medical products in Africa. This has accentuated the demand for new skills and multidisciplinary approaches to assess and manage health products.

In 2024 we will offer Pharmaceutical Policy and Management and Rational Medicines Use as online semester modules from July-November 2024. These modules may be taken as individual stand-alone modules or as part of the Master of Public Health. The Pharmaceutical Policy and Management Module will introduce participants to pharmaceutical policy and management issues within health systems. It will provide a foundation for pharmaceutical policy analysis, policy development and implementation skills at country and local levels. Selected areas include quality of medical products, pharmaceutical procurement and supply, human resources, and antimicrobials.

The Rational Medicines Use Module will introduce the rational medicines use concept and a range of tools to investigate and promote rational medicines use. The module will incorporate the use of antimicrobials, as well as challenges associated with treating non-communicable diseases. See overleaf for more details of online modules offered in 2024 and the fee structure.

Facilitators come from UWC Schools of Public Health and Pharmacy, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, independent consultants and South African provincial and national health departments.

Past students have come from government, NGO and private sector settings from most South African provinces, countries across Africa and beyond. This provides opportunities for networking and collaboration.

We will also offer a Webinar series that will complement the modules. More details to follow.

Further details:

These online modules may be taken as individual stand-alone modules or as part of the Master of Public Health. They run over one semester (approx. 15 weeks) and comprise online materials, including webinars, with weekly activities, discussion forums and two written assignments. Each module fulfils 15 credits (150 learning hours) at Masters-level. If you take the module as an individual stand-alone module and pass the assignments you will receive an official UWC transcript indicating your module credits.