Ministers from nine East, Central, and Southern African nations have approved a resolution to create the first regional college for pharmacists, marking a major step in healthcare workforce training. The East, Central and Southern African Health Community (ECSA-HC) endorsed the plan during its 76th Health Ministers Conference in Ezulwini, Eswatini. The move follows advocacy by the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and national pharmacy groups from Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, and Eswatini. The resolution authorizes the ECSA-HC Secretariat to collaborate with CPA and stakeholders to draft a proposal for the College of Pharmacists.
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Pharmacists often serve as the first point of contact for patients in underserved areas, yet no regional training institution for them exists in ECSA. Similar colleges for nurses and surgeons already operate in the region, but pharmacists lack comparable postgraduate education. The proposed College would align ECSA with West Africa, where the West African Health Organization (WAHO) has trained nearly 600 pharmacists since 1997. WAHO’s model also helped establish undergraduate pharmacy schools in Sierra Leone, boosting healthcare employment.
The new College will provide postgraduate training for pharmacists working in the region. While similar colleges exist for training nurses and surgeons, there is currently no provision for pharmacists who play a unique and vital role in healthcare systems as the first point of contact for many patients, especially those from low-income or hard-to-reach communities. The creation of the College would also bring the ECSA-HC region in line with its neighboring countries.
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Following the resolution’s adoption, CPA and its partners held a ceremony in Ezulwini to affirm their commitment. Gift Chakera, President of Zimbabwe’s Pharmaceutical Society, praised the College for harmonizing training and competencies across ECSA. He highlighted its potential to improve cross-border collaboration in managing antimicrobial resistance. William Mpute, President of Malawi’s Pharmaceutical Society, added that the College would help achieve Universal Health Coverage by strengthening pharmaceutical care and workforce readiness.
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The College’s creation reflects a growing recognition of pharmacists’ role in healthcare systems. With support from CPA and national partners, it aims to address gaps in training, ensure consistent standards, and enhance patient care. The initiative also aligns with global efforts to combat antibiotic resistance and strengthen health infrastructure in Africa.