Strengthening pharmacovigilance capacities in Southern African countries – current practices, challenges and proposed strategies At the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (APSSA) 2025 Conference, Lagoon Beach, Cape Town, South Africa, I had the opportunity to deliver a podium presentation on strengthening pharmacovigilance capacities in Southern African countries. FIND OUT MORE 18th World Congress on Public Health The SoPH is partnering with the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) and the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) to host the 18th World Congress on Public Health in Cape Town, September 6-9, 2026. FIND OUT MORE GT4Africa concludes on a high note with a closing webinar of reflection and celebration After over three years of collaboration, the GT4Africa collective held its concluding webinar on 21 August 2025 to take stock of its journey and celebrate milestones. FIND OUT MORE The School of Public Health-UWC, NACOSA, Hope Africa and Triangle Project launch a glossary of gender and sexuality terms in three South African languages On Tuesday, 23 February, the School of Public Health, NACOSA, Hope Africa, and Triangle Project, together with representatives from civil society and government departments working on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), gathered at Bertha House to celebrate the launch of... FIND OUT MORE
22 April 2025

68th Annual General Meeting and 37th Annual Conference of the South African Association of Hospital and Institutional Pharmacists (SAAHIP).

The School of Public Health attended the 68th Annual General Meeting and 37th Annual Conference of the South African Association of Hospital and Institutional Pharmacists (SAAHIP). Represented by Prof Renier Coetzee and Dr Hazel Bradley, the School show cased their contributions to public health pharmacy and transformative healthcare practices.
22 April 2025

Celebrating Excellence: 52 Graduates Honored at UWC School of Public Health

On the 14th of April 2025, the University of the Western Cape’s School of Public Health (SOPH) celebrated a remarkable milestone: the graduation of 52 students who have dedicated their academic journey to advancing public health and equity. Among them were two PhD graduates, 25 Master of Public Health graduates, and 25 Postgraduate Diploma graduates. This event marked not only the culmination of years of rigorous study but also the beginning of their impactful contributions to healthier, more just societies.
18 March 2025

What do I do with expired medicine? Don’t use it, for a start…

Proper medicine disposal is a critical yet often overlooked issue in South Africa. In a recent article published in The Conversation, Prof Coetzee highlights the risks associated with expired medicines, emphasizing the need for safer disposal practices to protect public health and the environment.
18 June 2024

Congratulations to Prof Renier on being appointed as the Deputy President of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA)!

We would like to extend our warm congratulations to Associate Professor Renier Coetzee of SOPH- UWC who has been appointed as the Deputy President of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA).
29 April 2024

Pharmaceutical Public Health

In 2025 the School of Public Health at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa will offer Pharmaceutical Policy and Management as an online semester module from July-November 2025. This module may be taken as an individual stand-alone module or as part of the Master of Public Health.
7 November 2023

Pharmaceutical policies in health systems Course at ITM, Belgium.

Two SOPH staff members, Hazel Bradley and Renier Coetzee, co-facilitates in a 3-week course that equips participants with the tools to understand, analyse and propose strategies for strenghtening pharmaceutical systems and their role in universal health coverage.