Specialisation in pharmacy is increasingly recognised as a critical strategy for improving patient care, advancing professional practice, and responding to the growing complexity of healthcare systems.

Internationally, many countries have established structured frameworks for pharmacy specialisation, providing formal pathways to advanced practice and professional recognition. In South Africa, significant progress has been made through the development of specialist scopes of practice, competency standards, qualifications, and curricula across key areas, including Industrial Pharmacy, Radiopharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy, and Public Health Pharmacy and Management. While the pharmacy profession in South Africa awaits the promulgation of specialist regulations, work is advancing on the development of accreditation criteria for education and training providers and on registration processes for specialist pharmacists.

This session will examine the current state of pharmacy specialisation in South Africa and explore lessons from international models. Through comparative perspectives, delegates will gain insights into governance structures, recognition pathways, workforce implications, and the value of specialisation across all sectors of pharmacy.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the current state, opportunities and challenges relating to pharmacy specialisation in South Africa.
• Recognise the value and impact of pharmacy specialisation in advancing professional practice, improving health outcomes and creating opportunities for career progression.

Key Take-Home Messages

• Pharmaceutical specialisation is an important mechanism for advancing professional practice.
• International experiences offer valuable lessons for developing sustainable and credible specialisation pathways in South Africa.
• A well-structured framework for specialisation can strengthen workforce capacity, support lifelong learning and enhance pharmacists’ contribution to healthcare systems.