There is a need in South Africa to have specialist public health and management pharmacists in line with the progressive need for an additional role in pharmacy, which is the delivery of pharmaceutical services aimed at improving the health and well-being of the community.

The training of these specialist pharmacists is aligned with the health needs of the population of the country and will contribute to the better management of pharmaceutical services. This specialist pharmacist will have the necessary skills and expertise to implement public health standards and management principles in the delivery of pharmaceutical services.

Public health and management pharmacists are required to understand and apply knowledge of epidemiology and biostatistics in disease prevention, health promotion, healthcare delivery and policy development.

The competency standards have been developed to encompass the changes and developments including new technologies, work processes, changes in legislation and international trends, primarily to ensure the promotion of good public health policies and practices.