Friday 6 February, 2026
EZULWINI, ESWATINI – The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and the National Pharmacy Associations (NPA) of six African countries are celebrating a major victory after Ministers attending the 76th Health Ministers Conference of the East, Central and Southern African Health Community (ECSA-HC) formally adopted a resolution that promises to pave the way for the creation of an ECSA-HC College of Pharmacists.
The resolution was presented by representatives of CPA and the NPAs of Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya and host country Eswatini, all of which are members of CPA. It seeks to establish a postgraduate training centre for pharmacists working in the region. The resolution was adopted by Ministers, giving authorization for ECSA-HC’s Secretariat to collaborate with CPA and other key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive proposal for the creation and support of the College.
The establishment of the College would be a significant step in advancing workforce training in the nine ECSA countries. 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. In West Africa, the West African Health Organization (WAHO) has successfully trained nearly 600 professionals through its West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists since 1997. WAHO has also used its College to support the development of new pharmacy schools for undergraduates in countries such as Sierra Leone, strengthening the healthcare workforce and creating employment opportunities for young health professionals.
The proposed ECSA-HC College of Pharmacists will provide advanced training opportunities for pharmacists, focusing on leadership and practice skills that are essential for effective antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). AMS is crucial in tackling antibiotic resistance, a health crisis that could take millions of lives across Africa by 2050 if urgent action is not taken. The College’s working model will involve international collaboration among ECSA-HC member states, leveraging each country’s strengths and being mindful of their individual challenges.
CPA, a globally recognized training provider for pharmacists, has led multiple high-impact AMS training programs in eight African countries since 2019. These programs have trained nearly 30,000 healthcare workers on the ground and provided digital resources for over 100,000 users, with the support of the UK’s Fleming Fund. As clinicians who are experts in the safe, effective, and sustainable use of medicines, pharmacists play a critical role in addressing antibiotic resistance.
Fellowship offerings by CPA as part of these programs have already had a significant impact. For example, in one hospital in Kenya, a CPA pharmacy leadership trainee increased adherence to antibiotic best practices in pre-surgical treatment from 20% to almost 90%. In Uganda, CPA interventions saw over 80% of patients benefit from targeted therapy, reducing order times for life-saving emergency antibiotics from every two weeks to every two months. CPA hopes that the proposed ECSA-HC College of Pharmacists will drive similar improvements across the region in a sustainable and cost-effective way.
After the resolution was formally adopted by Ministers, CPA and its national partners gathered in Ezulwini for a ceremonial counter-signing, affirming their commitment to the project and working in partnership to make the College a reality.
Beth Ward, CPA’s Strategic Lead for Workforce Capability Building, expressed her excitement and gratitude for the endorsement of the College by ECSA Health Ministers. She emphasized the critical role that pharmacists play in addressing public health threats such as antibiotic resistance and managing non-communicable diseases in ECSA communities. She noted that pharmacists have limited access to advanced training opportunities compared to doctors and nurses, despite being on the frontline of patient care. The College would bring training opportunities in leadership, advanced skills, and clinical expertise in line with other professions, driving improvement across health systems and promoting the safe, effective, and sustainable use of life-saving medicines.
Gift Chakera, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe, also commended the endorsement of the College, noting that it would harmonize training and recognition across ECSA countries, ensuring consistent competencies for AMR management and facilitating cross-border collaboration in surveillance and regulation. He congratulated CPA on their advocacy efforts and expressed gratitude to the ECSA-HC Health Ministers and all supporting partners.
William Mpute, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Malawi, also praised the proposed ECSA-HC College of Pharmacists, noting that it would play an integral role in delivering optimal pharmaceutical care to Malawians and contribute to the country’s efforts in achieving Universal Health Coverage. He stated that an ESCA-HC School of Pharmacists would effectively address the current and future needs of the pharmaceutical sector and the health sector at
