Chambers

Projects

Medical Sales Representative Learnership

Background

The learnership for Medical Sales Representatives (MSRs) was commenced in 2000 with the intention of developing a pool of MSRs from designated groups. A pilot learnership was commenced in April 2003 with 60 learners from a biology bridging programme. 53 learners complete the programme. As a result of problems encountered with this project the development of MSRs was stopped.

During 2005 the Pharmaceutical Chamber investigated the matter as stakeholders in the Pharmaceutical and FMCG Chamber consider MSR to be a scarce skill. It also offers an opportunity to effect transformation at higher levels within the pharmaceutical industry. Work was initiated to identify and address the problems related to the development of MSRs but this is not progressing at an acceptable rate. The problems and proposed solutions are stated below.

Problem Statement

  • Act 90 of 1997    Medicines and Related Substances Control Act – Amendment Section 18 requires that the Minister of Health prescribes a Code of Marketing Practice prescribing the marketing of medicines by the industry.
  • In terms of Section 16 of the Code representatives must be assessed against nationally recognised standards and those representatives with less than 2 years of industry experience are required to complete a full Medical Sales Representative Qualification.
  • Difficulties were experienced with the pilot learnership carried out against qualification no 17099.
    • The issue of National Certificated to learners who completed the pilot programme has not been possible as the providers were not accredited.
    • Accreditation was not carried out by the CHIETA ETQA as the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) claimed the right to accredit this qualification and SAQA recognised the SAPC as the ETQA for this qualification.
    • SAPC has not carried out accreditation because of a lack of Memorandum of Understanding between SAPC and the Higher Education Committee and the need to source expertise to address the ‘sales’ component of the qualification.
    • SAPC does not recognise the registered qualification as acceptable for the registration of MSRs.
    • Learners on the pilot programme were not accepted into the industry as envisaged. Reasons for this include the lack of drivers licences and a lack of prior learning (typically prospective MSRs have a related tertiary qualification and experience before commencing training)
  • It is accepted that the current qualification is sub-standard but that is ‘legal’ in terms of registration with SAQA.
  • SAPC has not been proactive in developing the Scope of Practice required for MSRs or a new qualification for MSRs.

Work towards solving the problem

  • The Joint Stakeholder Forum supported the recommendation by the Pharmaceutical & FMCG Chamber to recognise the MSR as scarce skills (November 2005).
  • Representatives of the Chamber supported by LAAPI met with representatives of the SAPC and SAQA in January 2006 to consider the problems and solutions. (Minutes are attached below).
  • Response from the SAPC meeting of 10/11 May 2006 arising from this meeting and requests for a way to address the issues, was received by the Chamber Specialist. (Letter dd 24 May 2006).
  • The matter was addressed by the EDTQA Division at a meeting attended by chamber and industry representatives on 25th May 2006. At this meeting it was recommended that the CHIETA ETQA request SAQA to allow it to accredit the provider against the current qualification. SAPC would be invited to partake in this work. Assuming a positive result from this accreditation, the SAPC would be expected to issue certificates to learners from the pilot project who were found competent. Alternatively the SAPC would be expected to specify what must be done before these certificates can be issued.
  • Representatives of the EDTQA Division and SAPC met with the Directorate Quality Assurance of SAQA on the 8th of June 2006 (note attached below). At this meeting the following was highlighted –
    • That SAPC was very strongly requested to conduct a ‘sample verification’ and award certification against the existing qualification (17099) and upload the learner information on the NLRD.
    • It is accepted that the Current Qualification may not be compliant with the scope of conduct to be developed by the SAPC. Learners will be informed of this and that they will probably require ‘top-up’ learning to comply with future registration requirements.
    • The current qualification will re-registered until a new qualification for Medical Sales Representative is registered by the Pharmaceutical SGB.
    • SAPC must quality assure the qualification assigned to them.
    • SAPC need to develop a code of conduct prior to writing the qualification. The Pharmaceutical SGB should invite the industry to assist in the writing process.
  • CHIETA may consider requests for assistance with standard generation from the SAPC if a proposal is received.