Summary of

Pharmacy Services NC III

Philippine Pharmacists Association
Hygieian Institute for Education Research and Training
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
Introduction
•  The purpose of this Certificate qualification is to equip
learners to understand and acquaint themselves with the
underlying principles of all major areas related to the
pharmaceutical environment, not only in terms of basic
technical skills, but also in relevant legislative and ethical
requirements.
Countries implementing
PA programme:
u  South Africa
u  New Zealand
u  United Kingdom
u  Canada
u  Vietnam
u  Thailand
u  Swaziland
u  And many others
Global Perspective on Pharmacy Workforce
Global Workforce Distribution by
Sector
55% Community
18% Hospitals
10% Industry
5 % Research & Academe
5% Regulation Local Workforce Distribution by
Others Sector
77% Community
15% Hospitals
7% Industry
0.5% Research & Academe
Others
Global
Distribution of
Pharmacists
and Pharmacy
Support
Workforce
Introduction
•  Medicine sellers are recognized as influential source of
information on illness and treatment. Training of
“untrained medicine sellers” have shown to improve
dispensing habits (Medicine Sciences for Health, 2012)
•  Pharmacy Services NCII was established in 2008. There
was a need to revise the content of the program, hence,
in 2013, PPhA and TESDA started the partnership.
2015 Philippine Pharmacy Support
Workforce Study (partial analysis, n=400)
Demographics

Sex Highest Educational Background

Male 18.1% (72) College graduate 54.8% (219)
Female 81.7% (326) College level 24.1% (96)
3.5% (14)
Technical Vocation
Age 0.25% (1)
HS grad
range 18-63
mean 30.15
18-31 63% (253)
32-63 37% (147)
 2015 Philippine Pharmacy Support
Workforce Study (partial analysis, n=400)
Employment Status Type of Drugstore

76% (305) Big Chain 25% (102)

Regular
8.5% (34) Medium 10.8% (43)
Probationary
3% (12) Small Chain 14.3% (57)
Casual
5% (20) Independent 37.6% (150)
Contractual
Self-employed 25 (6.3%)

Years of Experience
Range 1 month – 35 years
5.7 years
Mean
Mode 3 years
Training/Seminars taken by PAs
Competency Area Proportion of PAs Competency Area Proportion of PAs

Housekeeping 26% (105) Dispensing practice 38% (155)

Supply chain and 24% (96) Good manufacturing 9.5% (38)
inventory control practice
Good storage 22.5% (90) Good laboratory 8.02% (32)
practice practice
Product knowledge 39% (157) Adverse drug reaction 6.5% (26)
Health disease 17% (70) reporting
Marketing and 18% (73) Medicine information 25.8% (103)
merchandising provision
IMPORTANT FINDING: (partial analysis)
§  159 (40%) of 400 have absolutely NO TRAINING
received in the past (reported no training at all)
§  Most trainings available are product presentations
from pharmaceutical companies
Work Satisfaction in Average Training
terms of Work Load Days
% Participants
Ave. Training Days
Strongly 44.4% (177)
Big Chain 7 days
Agree
Medium Chain 4.7 days
Agree 52.38% (209)
Small Chain 7.1 days
Disagree 1% (4)
Independent 5.1 days
Strongly 0.25% (1)
Disagree
*
Lack of training of PAs
•  Dispensing errors
•  Irrational use of medicines
•  Improperly administered medicines
•  Underreporting of adverse events among patients
 TESDA Pharmacy Services NC III
Why Technical Education and Skills Development Authority?

•  Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994 (Republic

Act No. 7796) 
§  Mandates TESDA to establish national occupational skill
standards
§  Develop and implement a certification and accreditation
program
TESDA Pharmacy Services NC III
The Training Regulations (TR) serves as basis for the: 
- Competency assessment and certification;
- Registration and delivery of training programs;
and
- Development of curriculum and assessment
instruments.
 COMPETENCY MAP (PHARMACY SERVICE NCIII)
Basic Competencies
Communicate Identify and communicate
LEAD WORKPLACE Lead workplace
information about issues arising in the
COMMUNICATION workplace processes
discussions
workplace
Set performance
LEAD SMALL TEAMS Provide team Supervise team
Assign responsibilities expectations for team
leadership performance
members
DEVELOP AND PRACTICE
Plan negotiations Participate in negotiations
NEGOTIATION SKILLS
SOLVE PROBLEMS
Explain the analytical Determine fundamental
RELATED TO WORK Identify the problem Determine corrective action
techniques causes of the problem
ACTIVITIES
Identify
USE MATHEMATICAL Apply mathematical
mathematical tools
CONCEPTS AND procedure/ Analyze results    
and techniques to
TECHIQUES solution
solve problem
Study/select
USE RELEVANT appropriate Apply relevant technology Maintain/ enhance
TECHNOLOGIES technology relevant technology

Disclaimer: Consider final only after promulgation

COMPETENCY MAP (PHARMACY SERVICE NCIII)
Common Competencies

MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE
Maintain a professional Meet client/customer Build credibility with
RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENTS/
image requirements customers/clients
CUSTOMERS

UPDATE INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE

AND PRACTICE THROUGH Seek information on the Update industry
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL industry knowledge
DEVELOPMENT

PERFORM WORKPLACE Follow workplace

SECURITY AND SAFETY procedures for health, Deal with emergency Maintain safe personal
PRACTICES safety and security situations presentation standards
practices
PERFORM COMPUTER Plan and prepare for task Access information using
Input data into computer
OPERATIONS to be taken undertaken computer
Understand
USE PHARMACEUTICAL pharmaceutical
Use dimensional analysis to Use of equipment,
CALCULATION TECHNIQUES AND terminologies and medical
convert one unit to another glassware, and tools
TERMINOLOGIES terms
 COMPETENCY MAP (PHARMACY SERVICE NCIII)
Core Competencies
Perform Follow health and
PRACTICE GOOD
housekeeping safety practices in
HOUSEKEEPING
duties the area
Examine the Assist in Handle product
MONITOR SUPPLY/ medicines in procurement of returned
INVENTORY OF Receive and Pack and dispatch
the materials and products or
PHARMACEUTICAL deliver of stocks orders
PRODUCTS assortment list services from products for
or formulary qualified sources return
HANDLE AND
Comply with
CONTROL
drug storage Monitor inventory Dispense of waste
PHARMACEUTICAL
PRODUCTS requirements
ARRANGE AND Follow Follow display Monitor
DISPLAY
PHARMACEUTICAL
merchandising plan for promotional
PRODUCTS plan promotional items activities  

Disclaimer: Consider final only after promulgation

PERFORM GOOD
Demonstrate skills in Maintain and store
LABORATORY Observe laboratory
laboratory pharmacy glassware/
PRACTICES protocols
measurements device/ equipment

DISPENSE
Process over-the-
PHARMACEUTICAL . Acknowledge Process prescription Receive payment and
counter medicine
PRODUCTS patient/ client medicine order release exact change
order

PERFORM HEALTH
Participate in health  Refer patients to
PROMOTION, Perform screening
promotion and appropriate health
EDUCATION AND procedures for
education campaigns care professionals or
VIGILANCE common diseases
facilities

Demonstrate Advise patients on Guide patients on

DEMONSTRATE Calculate quantity Advise proper use of
adequate knowledge reporting unusual how to fill-out forms
PRODUCT needed in the OTC medicine under
on OTC and selected experience with
KNOWLEDGE ON regimen of the whole the supervision of the
prescription medicines
MEDICINES prescription pharmacist
medicines
Demonstrate Demonstrate Good Complete
ADHERE TO GOOD
understanding of Manufacturing documentation
MANUFACTURING Observe personal
Good Manufacturing Practices in requirements to
PRACTICES (GMP) hygiene and conduct
Practices and performing work support GMP
concepts activities

Disclaimer: Consider final only after promulgation

The Pharmacy Support Workforce Summit
Theme : “Strengthening the Pharmacy Workforce through the
Professionalization of Pharmacy Assistants”
I.  Role of Human Resource in the Delivery of Pharmacy
Services
II.  The Policy Framework
A. Pharmacy Related Laws
B. FDA A.O.s and Related Issuances
III. The Education Framework
IV. TESDA Pharmacy Services NC III
A. Certification Process
B. Workshop
V. Transitioning towards 100% Pharmacy Assistant Certification
Summit Objectives
•  To understand the
- TESDA Pharmacy Services NC III Program that aims to
train and develop Competent Pharmacy Assistants that play a
significant role in the delivery of pharmacy services in the
country.
- the process of how the program was developed and how the
Certification process will happen
•  To appreciate the importance of the Pharmacy Assistants
Summit as the initial requirement for the application of a new
LTO and its renewal