Pharmacist Salaries in South Africa!

According to a recent 2018 review done on pharmaceutical jobs from the Indeed recruitment and the pay scale websites,  pharmacists in South Africa earn anywhere from an entry level approximate of R20 000 a month to an experienced million Rands a year!

So why does this four year bachelor degree fluctuate so much in remuneration?
Well it depends on the sector and the years experience that one has. In the private sector, international pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer Inc, are well able to pay even international rates hence an RA (regulatory affairs) pharmacist with at least 5 years experience can earn up to R100 000 monthly salary!

You may need to top up your degree with a post graduate course at some point along the way when you figure out which path you want to follow, but adding a managerial or business degree can give you the edge you require. Pharmacovigilence and quality assurance/ control related course also seem to be in demand.

Source: pay scale 2018 pharmacist in SA.


An intern earning R20 000 may choose to pursue a masters degree in business administration or entrepreneurship with the hope of developing a company in the future and work for themselves. However if regular (retail, hospital) employment in either the public or private sector is the aim, this route may not be necessary. Rather people skills & mamagenent or public health / and drug utilization courses are better suited and more profitable.

PhDs are very challenging and can equally become highly profitable if carefully thought through. It's mainly achieved by those willing to stay in academia or research or again those aiming for self-determining business or international careers. In academia, a senior lecturer or professor with a PhD may earn R45-R55 000 a month depending on The specific institution and experience.

The average pharmacist (64% female and 36% male) however earns about R34 000, and depending on the city or town they live in, this will also vary slightly.

There is much to gain in this wonderful profession, and career satisfaction is inevitable provided you love what you do while making strategic decisions.

Happy pharming!


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3 things to prevent a cold or flu this winter!

Colder winter days are upon us and the common cold (milder) and flu (more severe/intense) season as well! You may know that both these similar conditions are caused by viruses ( rhinoviruses and influenza viruses) meaning they are self limiting. Once you get a cold or flu expect 7-10 days of symptoms including a sore throat, fever, runny nose and a dry cough (persistent).

Note: you do not need a doctor to treat an episode as most over the counter medication will suffice. However if an underlying or pre existing condition exist such that your symptoms are exacerbated, do not hesitate. Antibiotics are usually seldom required and unnecessary as they only treat bacterial infections and not viral ones. So to steer clear of these viral bugs here are 3 things you can do:

1. The obvious one is keep warm! "Catching cold" can actually trigger sickness if you have a sensitivity or predisposition. Hypothermia will cause illness. The mucus membrabe in your nose and mouth can dryup or crack therefore compromising the protective layer and inviting the common cold or flu virus in. Also asthma can become exacerbated or flare up leading to dry or productive coughs. Smokers can also further irritate their bronchi with prolonged cold weather exposures.

2. Intentional supplemental intakes. During the colder winter days be proactive to ward of getting sick. Maximise your water intake, this helps flush out parasites and viruses from your system before they cause harm. Eat more citrus fruits packed with vitamin c to boost your immune system.  You can also take a daily vitamin c & zinc supplement. You should also eat balanced meals that give you essential amino acids and minerals to build a stronger body... and don't forget to exercise!

3. Prevention is better than cure. You've surely heard that saying many times before and it couldn't be truer regarding colds and flu. Avoid crowd, and busy enclosures. Since the weather is cold, people tend to stay indoor more and thus recycle each other's air, airborne germs and viruses. If someone coughs or sneezes openly, those particles travel to everyone else. Same with shaking hands with someone who just sneezed, coughed or held a used tissue. Wash hands more regularly throughout the day to prevent direct contamination. Lastly, check with your pharmacist if you qualify and get a flu injection.

Also note that through the hundreds of various "colds & flu" preparations that promise to cure you, many have similar active ingredients which can cause serious harm when taken concurrently. Especially with anti pain/inflammation substances like paracetamol / codeine / ibuprofen.

Always check with your pharmacist the total daily allowed dose for any particular active ingredients to avoid overdose, contraindications and side effects.

Happy Winter!

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What is Pharmacy? Who is a Pharmacist?

Over the years most professions change and pharmacy is no exception.

It is still represented by a mortar and pestle as that once was the major function of crushing and mixing leaves, seeds, and various strange things. But today the profession has stretched out far and wide...

The age of scientific evidence has demystified and surely transformed the perceptions of this noble career. Pharmacists are not wizards who compound nauseating concoctions for you to mystically cure you anymore. Now they are (for the most part) highly scientific, professionally trained drug dealers!

The South African Pharmaceutical Council, responsible body for controlling and  registering all pharmacies and their personnel;  states that pharmacy is the science of dealing with collection, preparation, standardization, dispensing and storage of drugs.
Did you know that pharmacy has over 8 specialty fields ?
From laboratory, research, academia, retail, hospital/clinical, industrial/production, to regulatory/ quality control, warehousing/distribution, consultant/specialist, and a few others! There are a lot of options to explore throughout ones career as a pharmacist! With all these sub sectors come just as many diversified services they offer!

Think of it this way, when you're sick, a general practitioner could diagnose you with a condition X. But if it weren't for all those pharmacists who research the medicine in the labs, those who manufacture the medicine in industry, those who package it and make sure it is safe, and the one who hands it over at the counter or in the hospital wards; you couldn't get treatment!

If you know a pharmacist in your friends or family circles, ask them what they do at work! You may be surprised.

Never think again of Pharmacy only as a shop where you can buy medicine. That's only the last carriage on the pharmacy-types train!


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Pharmacist, Take Charge!

How many of us really fight against antibiotic abuse. Stewardship is OUR duty. I'm lenient with young children and the elderly but when anyone else comes with an "Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid/ similar" script for a "cold" I start frowning. SA has one of the worst stats in microbial resistance and we keep daily dispensing as if to ignore those numbers. We pharmacist must be FIRM. Double check, phone the doctor and ask if they've performed culture tests and advise patient to wait/defer before starting antibiotic course.

It's a real problem and it's only getting worse.
Don't turn a blind eye, take an extra minute to ask the right questions.

Of course this comes with knowledgeability and confidence. Therefore revise your antibiotic classes and coverage,  re-educate and refresh your triage skills. Develop easy-to-use algorithms for your co-workers and yourself to use in the pharmacy. 

Changing the face of pharmacy will start with each and every script we scrutinize and the value we add through discussions with patient and health care providers!

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Don't Make This Common Health Mistake!

Patients are increasingly clued up about various medical and pharmaceutical developments and their treatments or requests thereof are subsequently getting more and more demanding.

While the internet and social media have done tremendous good with knowledge sharing and increased wide-spread communication, patients are advised to take what they browse through, with a pinch of salt.

From rumours, to gimmicks to facts and experiences; it can get quite tricky to filter through the relevant information you acquire from the net. Without a health care background one can easy move from a headache to a brain tumour in just one click.

These unnecessary self scaring diagnoses are harmful to the lay person and frankly, time and energy wasters.

You know how your body usually feels and if one day you feel "different" observe, for a bit, then consult if it persists.
At the pharmacy you can quickly get a free symptom check from your pharmacist and some good sound advice on how to proceed.
Always let them know if you are taking any new, old, chronic or acute medication and be ready with the correct name so they can check contraindications and side effect profiles.

Give a call or book an online appointment to your trusted pharmacist at Pharmers.co.za. They will help you navigate the

Do not self diagnose;
Especially from the Internet!

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What Your Pharmacist Wishes You Knew!

Every Pharmacist's Wish

Here's a quick run down of the top 5 things your pharmacist secretly wishes you knew:

1. That you can trust them. They went to school for several years and are not just tellers or cashiers. They actually studied pharmaceutical sciences including pharmacology and kinda know what they're doing. Whether for over-the-counter products or prescription items they are in a better position to give you accurate sound professional advice. Trust them.

2. They are more than pill counters. Of course counting pills is part of dispensing your medication but that's really the last steps towards issuing your treatment. From the minute your prescription is handed in, pharmacists begin the art of multitasking. They do a quick but thorough scan through first of all to"assess" the correctness of the prescription including if it's valid by law and secondly look at the correctness of the treatment prescribed vs the condition being treated.
All this happens under your unsuspecting nose and so just because they don't mention what they're doing doesn't mean it's not happening.

3. That you can speed up the process and cut down your waiting time by being ready with all relevant cards, prescriptions and information required (by law) before hand. (Also, don't take phone calls while next in line. They need your full attention and must ask important questions.) Its no use staring at the pharmacist while standing in line just to get to the counter and start shuffling through your bag or briefcase. Either way they usually do their best with regards to time. They're not standing there being slow on purpose or delaying the line for fun. Each patient needs is different and waiting times will fluctuate.
Be ready and patient.

4. The pharmacy is not a fast food store. Pharmacists don't appreciate your impatience. In general its rude to rush someone doing their job. When a service is rendered for your benefit, you must realize that it's to your advantage that all the safety precautions are taken to ensure a quality. Don't come in expecting to be out in 5mins. Make allowance for prescription mistakes to be caught and changed Which may involve phone calls to your prescriber or even medical aid provider. Again, it's medicine not pizza. An allergy, a wrong dosage or label could send you to the ER or worse.

5. They are there to help you. Pharmacists are the last member of your health care team. The last professionals you interact with before commencing treatment. Don't rush in to grab something for a runny nose without asking your pharmacist if it will interfere with any other medicine your taking. Advice from family and friends are well meaning but sometimes misguided. There's nothing worse to a pharmacist than giving you advice on a pain pill and you dismissing it because so and so suggested you take something else instead. They are professionals. Trained to help you. Ask them about the correct approach to relieving all your ailments.

There are a lot more things on their list apparently, but if you start with these 5, you'll be sure to get much appreciation from your pharmacist next time you visit the pharmacy.

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