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
Others

Local Workforce Distribution by

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)

Technical Vocation

Age
range

18-63

mean

30.15
18-31 63% (253)
32-63 37% (147)

HS grad

3.5% (14)
0.25% (1)

2015 Philippine Pharmacy Support

Workforce Study (partial analysis, n=400)
Employment Status

Type of Drugstore

Regular

76% (305)

Big Chain

25% (102)

Probationary

8.5% (34)

Medium

10.8% (43)

Casual

3% (12)

Small Chain

14.3% (57)

Contractual

5% (20)

Independent

37.6% (150)

Self-employed

25 (6.3%)
Years of Experience
Range
Mean
Mode

1 month 35 years
5.7 years
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

inventory control

24% (96)

Good manufacturing
practice

9.5% (38)

Good storage
practice

22.5% (90)

Good laboratory
practice

8.02% (32)

Product knowledge

39% (157)

Health disease

17% (70)

Adverse drug reaction

reporting

6.5% (26)

Marketing and
merchandising

18% (73)

Medicine information
provision

25.8% (103)

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
terms of Work Load

Average Training
Days

% Participants
Strongly
Agree

44.4% (177)

Agree
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree

52.38% (209)
1% (4)
0.25% (1)

Ave. Training Days

Big Chain
Medium Chain
Small Chain
Independent
*

7 days
4.7 days
7.1 days
5.1 days

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
LEAD WORKPLACE
COMMUNICATION

Communicate
information about
workplace processes

Lead workplace
discussions

Identify and communicate

issues arising in the
workplace

LEAD SMALL TEAMS

Provide team
leadership

Assign responsibilities

Set performance
expectations for team
members

Plan negotiations

Participate in negotiations

Explain the analytical

techniques

Identify the problem

DEVELOP AND PRACTICE

NEGOTIATION SKILLS
SOLVE PROBLEMS
RELATED TO WORK
ACTIVITIES
USE MATHEMATICAL
CONCEPTS AND
TECHIQUES
USE RELEVANT
TECHNOLOGIES

Identify
mathematical tools
and techniques to
solve problem
Study/select
appropriate
technology

Apply mathematical
procedure/
solution
Apply relevant technology

Determine fundamental
causes of the problem

Analyze results

Maintain/ enhance
relevant technology

Disclaimer: Consider final only after promulgation

Supervise team
performance

Determine corrective action

COMPETENCY MAP (PHARMACY SERVICE NCIII)

Common Competencies
MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENTS/
CUSTOMERS

Maintain a professional
image

Meet client/customer
requirements

UPDATE INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE

AND PRACTICE THROUGH
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

Seek information on the

industry

Update industry
knowledge

PERFORM WORKPLACE
SECURITY AND SAFETY
PRACTICES

Follow workplace
procedures for health,
safety and security
practices

Deal with emergency

situations

Maintain safe personal

presentation standards

PERFORM COMPUTER
OPERATIONS

Plan and prepare for task

to be taken undertaken

Input data into computer

Access information using

computer

USE PHARMACEUTICAL
CALCULATION TECHNIQUES AND
TERMINOLOGIES

Use dimensional analysis to

convert one unit to another

Understand
pharmaceutical
terminologies and medical
terms

Build credibility with

customers/clients

Use of equipment,
glassware, and tools

COMPETENCY MAP (PHARMACY SERVICE NCIII)

Core Competencies
PRACTICE GOOD
HOUSEKEEPING
MONITOR SUPPLY/
INVENTORY OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
PRODUCTS
HANDLE AND
CONTROL
PHARMACEUTICAL
PRODUCTS
ARRANGE AND
DISPLAY
PHARMACEUTICAL
PRODUCTS

Perform
housekeeping
duties
Examine the
medicines in
the
assortment list
or formulary

Follow health and

safety practices in
the area
Assist in
procurement of
materials and
services from
qualified sources

Comply with
drug storage
requirements

Monitor inventory

Dispense of waste

Follow
merchandising
plan

Follow display
plan for
promotional items

Monitor
promotional
activities

Receive and
deliver of stocks

Pack and dispatch

orders

Disclaimer: Consider final only after promulgation

Handle product
returned
products or
products for
return

PERFORM GOOD
LABORATORY
PRACTICES

DISPENSE
PHARMACEUTICAL
PRODUCTS

Observe laboratory
protocols

Demonstrate skills in
laboratory
measurements

Maintain and store

pharmacy glassware/
device/ equipment

. Acknowledge
patient/ client

Process over-thecounter medicine

order

Process prescription
medicine order

Perform screening
procedures for
common diseases

Refer patients to
appropriate health
care professionals or
facilities

Calculate quantity
needed in the
regimen of the whole
prescription

Advise proper use of

OTC medicine under
the supervision of the
pharmacist

Observe personal
hygiene and conduct

Demonstrate Good
Manufacturing
Practices in
performing work
activities

PERFORM HEALTH
PROMOTION,
EDUCATION AND
VIGILANCE

Participate in health
promotion and
education campaigns

DEMONSTRATE
PRODUCT
KNOWLEDGE ON
MEDICINES

Demonstrate
adequate knowledge
on OTC and selected
prescription
medicines

ADHERE TO GOOD
MANUFACTURING
PRACTICES (GMP)

Demonstrate
understanding of
Good Manufacturing
Practices and
concepts

Receive payment and

release exact change

Advise patients on
reporting unusual
experience with
medicines
Complete
documentation
requirements to
support GMP

Disclaimer: Consider final only after promulgation

Guide patients on
how to fill-out forms

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