Certificate In Medicines Counter Assistant

Application Eligibility and Details

Programme Background Information

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is one of the eight partners of the Mastercard Foundation Health Collaborative project selected across Africa to build an empowered health workforce to provide targeted local solutions for the growing primary healthcare needs of the country and Africa, towards the attainment of universal health coverage (UHC).

The programme runs on three strategic pillars in concert, to provide opportunity for the development of an empowered youth in Ghana and Africa with focus of ensuring diversity, equality and inclusivity and thus, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDGs 3 (Good health and well-being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), and 8 (Decent work and economic growth), among others.

The strategic pillars of the Health Collaborative are: Health Entrepreneurship, Health Employment, and Health Ecosystem with a strong focus on women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Consequently, the Health Ecosystem pillar is required to mount five empowerment programmes for PWDs including a certificate programme in Medicines Counter Assistant (MCA). This is to help some PWDs acquire critical skills, knowledge and competencies to enable them function effectively and secure decent jobs within the pharmaceutical care delivery chain to improve their quality of life. The proposed MCA programme is supported by the Mastercard Foundation Higher Education Health Collaborative.

Aims of the Programme

The aim of the Health Collaborative MCA programme is to train qualified and highly motivated PWDs into skilled, competent and entrepreneurial pharmacy support staff of national relevance.

Objectives of the programme

The objectives of the Health Collaborative MCA programme are to

  • Provide an exclusive opportunity for qualified PWDs to be trained as licensed pharmacy support staff to improve pharmaceutical care services in Ghana.
  • Equip the students with core knowledge in relevant pharmaceutical care support staff modules, as well as hands-on training experience in community pharmacies.
  • Train students to acquire skills in computer literacy, entrepreneurship, preparation of curriculum vitae (CV), and attending interviews.
  • Train students to be life-long learners and develop attitudes and values that are consistent with the 21st century pharmaceutical care support staff (i.e., confidence, critical thinking, good decision-making, innovation, among others).

Admission And Progression Requirements

  • The minimum qualification shall be Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) or GCE “O” Level Certificate. However, person(s) with lower qualification(s) such as Middle School Leaving Certificate (MSLC), aged more than 25 years, and have worked for a minimum of three years in a pharmacy, may be considered for admission into the programme if the applicant(s) can demonstrate the ability to read and write.
  • Persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply.
  • Shortlisted applicant(s) may be invited for a selection interview.

Duration

The duration of the programme shall be 12 months.

NB: The programme is hosted by the Faculty of Pharmacy, KNUST, Kumasi.

Application Procedure

To apply for the scholarship;

  • Click the link below to the Application Portal:
CLICK TO APPLY

Disclaimer

Only candidates who meet the minimum admission requirements of the programme and the Mastercard Foundation Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative’s Scholarship criteria will be notified of the results of their application.

Deadline and Contact Information