Pharmacists are health care professionals whose professional responsibilities include seeking to ensure that people derive maximum therapeutic benefit from their treatments with medicines. This requires them to keep abreast of developments in pharmacy practice and the pharmaceutical sciences, professional standards requirements, the laws governing pharmacy and medicines and advances in knowledge and technology relating to use of medicines.This can only be achieved by an individual’s personal commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

A statement adopted by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in 2002 defines continuing professional development (CPD) as “the responsibility of individual pharmacists for systematic maintenance, development and broadening of knowledge, skills and attitudes, to ensure continuing competence as a professional, throughout their careers.”  In recent years, adoption of the concept of CPD to in pharmacy has begun to increase around the world, initially in United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand.

The National Pharmacy Council (NPC) introduced a mandatory CPD program in 2015 and since the year 2016 the participation in CPD, is a pre-requisite for the revalidation of the right to practice.

As the mandate for the Council as the regulatory authority is to protect the public; the Council ensures that registered persons undertake CPD to maintain their competence. The CPD program assists Council to identify pharmacy personnel who have been unable to maintain their competence to practice.

Commitment by each individual to participation in structured CPD is essential for all practicing pharmacists. In the care of a patient, contemporary, competent practice will require continuous improvement in skills and performance. As well as demonstrating professional commitment, participation in CPD provides for flexible career choices, enhance career satisfaction and improve patient care.