Multi-professional Perspectives from Across Africa
Date: 13 May 2026
Time: 13:00 – 14:30 (UK time)
Format: Online Webinar
Hosted by:
East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC)
In partnership with:
Commonwealth Pharmacists Association; AFREhealth; AfroPHC; UHNM; National Pharmacy Associations and regional partners
Overview
In the ECSA region, prescribing and medicines management in primary care are shaped by professional models influenced by workforce availability, geography, and regulation. Nurses and pharmacists often assume expanded roles to enhance access to healthcare in underserved areas. While this improves access, it raises concerns regarding scope of practice, patient safety, and professional development. This webinar facilitated discussion among nursing and pharmacy professionals to explore practices, challenges, and opportunities for effective multidisciplinary collaboration in prescribing.
Watch the webinar recording here
Moderators
Bongi Sibanda
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust & AfroPHC
Beth Ward
Commonwealth Pharmacists Association
Featured Speakers
Judy Khanyola
Vice President, AFREhealth
Gift Chareka
President, Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe
Dr Wairimu Njuki
President, Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya
Dr Lizemari Hugo
Associate Professor, University of the Free State
Seeletso Ndicky Modibedi (Botswana)
Family Nurse Practitioner & Lecturer
Presentations
Judy Khanyola (Kenya) – AFREhealth
Judy Khanyola explored workforce readiness and professional education across Africa. She highlighted the gap between policy ambition and implementation, emphasizing the need for competency-based curricula, strengthened clinical supervision, and investment in educator capacity to support safe prescribing practice.
Gift Chareka (Zimbabwe) – Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe
Gift Chareka presented on Zimbabwe’s evolving approach to pharmacist-led prescribing and medicines management. He discussed regulatory and policy considerations, workforce capacity challenges, and the importance of building public confidence in expanded pharmacist roles, particularly in primary care.
Dr Wairimu Njuki (Kenya) – Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya
Dr Njuki focused on regulatory frameworks and integrated care systems in Kenya. She highlighted the importance of clear referral pathways, community-level service delivery, and collaborative practice models in strengthening prescribing and medicines management across multidisciplinary teams.
Dr Lizemari Hugo (South Africa) – University of the Free State
Dr Hugo addressed education and supervision within the health workforce. She emphasized the importance of structured preceptorship and clinical training systems to ensure competence, patient safety, and quality prescribing practices among healthcare professionals.
Seeletso Ndicky Modibedi (Botswana) – Institute of Health Sciences, Serowe
Ndicky Modibedi provided insights into Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) education, practice and workforce development in Botswana. She highlighted the challenges that arise when professional roles expand faster than regulatory frameworks and stressed the importance of aligning governance with evolving scopes of practice.
Panel Discussion
The moderated panel discussion explored key themes emerging from the presentations, including:
- Barriers to implementing expanded prescribing roles
- Education, training, and supervision requirements
- Regulatory and policy considerations
- Strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration
The discussion reinforced the view that prescribing is increasingly a shared, team-based responsibility requiring coordinated education, policy alignment, and strong governance systems.
Explore the full master deck with all presentations
Objectives
The webinar aimed to:
- Share current prescribing and medicines management practices across ECSA countries
- Identify workforce training, supervision, and CPD needs
- Explore opportunities for strengthened multidisciplinary collaboration
- Inform future regional workforce development initiatives
Outcomes
The webinar contributed to:
- Strengthening dialogue between pharmacy and nursing professionals
- Sharing practical examples of prescribing practice across African health systems
- Identifying priority areas for workforce training and development
- Highlighting key regulatory and policy considerations
- Generating insights to inform future collaborative programmes
