Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa

Dear PSSA Members and fellow pharmacists

It is a great privilege to welcome our members to the CPD platform, where you can participate in CPDs presented by pharmacists for pharmacists. This free-to-member service was made possible through the generous invitation and support of the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA).

Annual CPD submission for all PSSA members have been a compulsory requirement from the South African Pharmacy Council for some years. This platform will create an ideal opportunity for pharmacists to stay abreast of the latest developments in the field of medicine, the profession and ethical practice for pharmacists, irrespective of the Sector you may work in. All this whilst you can efficiently complete your annual CPD submissions!

I sincerely hope that this platform will further contribute to the range of the services PSSA offers our members.

Best regards
Joggie Hattingh

The first apothecary established in what is now South Africa was Joachim Blanck. A member of the Guild of Apothecaries in Amsterdam, Blanck settled in the Cape in 1653. It was not until the early 19th century that the function of the pharmacists in South Africa was first defined. This enabled pharmacists (Chemists and Druggists) to organise themselves into a professional group distinct from other medical professions.

On 13 June 1885 a group of 7 pharmacists met in King Williamstown to form the first voluntary pharmaceutical society – the South African Pharmaceutical Association (SAPA). From here pharmaceutical societies were developed in the various provinces. Each provincial professional society was an autonomous individual society.

The amalgamation of these formed the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA), the first unified professional society for pharmacy in South Africa. The Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa was inaugurated on 01 January 1946 and “became of powerful instrument for the advancement of pharmacy” in South Africa.

To date the PSSA is the biggest professional association for pharmacists, pharmacy students and pharmacy support personnel in South Africa. The PSSA also has a Young Pharmacists Group that was formally established in 2014.

There are currently 9 schools of pharmacy in South Africa and almost 1 000 students graduate each year. The profession is regulated by the South African Pharmacy Council (https://www.sapc.za.org/) and the PSSA and the SAPC has a good working relationship. 

The PSSA President: Joggie Hattingh
The PSSA Deputy President: Refiloe Mogale
The PSSA Treasurer: Lynette Terblanche
The Vice-President Academy: Ilse Vermaak
The Vice-President Community Pharmacy: Johannes Ravele
The Vice-President Hospital Pharmacy: Shawn Zeelie
The Vice-President Industry: Gina Partridge
You can use the info@pssa.org.za email address to make contact with them

Keep up to date on news

PSSA website: https://www.pssa.org.za/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PSSA1946
The PSSA’s journal website: http://www.sapj.co.za/index.php/SAPJ
The SAPC website: https://www.sapc.za.org/