News

Pharmacy Open Day for prospective students

On Saturday 12 July 2008 the School of Pharmacy held an Open Day where prospective pharmacy students and their parents were received and treated by the School, as well as to gain some knowledge on the pharmacy profession.

About 160 students and their parents attended the occasion, where they had the opportunity to gain first hand knowledge of the pharmaceutical profession by pharmacists from various walks of the sector. For some it was an eye-opener to hear about the broad spectrum of career opportunities in the profession and that it not just involve the chemist around the corner.

Prof Chris van Wyk informed those present about the huge need for pharmacists in nearly all the sectors of the profession, and that there are ample job opportunities. Dr Chris Stubbs, head: technical development at Aspen Pharmacare - one of the largest, local medicine manufacturers - outlined the various career opportunities in the pharmaceutical profession.

Mr Tiaan Serfontein, managing director of Medscheme in Namibia, gave the audience a glimpse inside the world of medical funds and the emerging career possibilities for health care managers. Two other speakers were Ms Liezl Fourie of Olivedale Clinic in Randburg, who represented the pharmacist in the public sector and Ms Hettie Marais, assistant director of Pharmaceutical Services in the Free State, who addressed the audience on the role of the pharmacist in a public hospital.

After tea and refreshments, Dr Johann Kruger (owner of Forum pharmacy in Pretoria) addressed prospective students on the career opportunities in community pharmacy, and Mr Corrie Pretorius (area manager of Medrite Pharmacies) on the role of the pharmacist in the corporate world of chain group pharmacists.

The message of the day that became very clear was the fact that there are a critical shortage of pharmacists, as well as the fierce competition between the various sectors of the profession to obtain pharmacists..

The day was concluded with a tour of the School and lunch.

The speakers with the organisers of the Open Day.
From the left, Mr Corrie Pretorius, Ms Liezl Fourie,
Dr Chriss Stubbs, Prof Douglas Oliver (school
director) Ms Rina Meyer (organiser), Ms Hettie
Marais, Mr Tiaan Serfontein, Prof Chris van
Wyk and Dr  Johann  Kruger.