Associate Professor Renier Coetzee from the School of Public Health has been appointed as Deputy President of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA). The PSSA supports pharmacists in various roles throughout South Africa.
Furthermore, the society aims to be the undisputed leader and guardian of the pharmacy profession, promoting and enhancing the profession of pharmacy to improve medication use and advance patient care.
Prof Coetzee was appointed based on his involvement in shaping policies and driving positive change in his role in various national and provincial committees. A trained clinical pharmacist, he joined the School of Public Health in 2022 after working at the School of Pharmacy (UWC). Here, he was responsible for developing various undergraduate and postgraduate clinical programmes.
He is continuing his research on patient safety, with a particular interest in rational medicine use and Antimicrobial Stewardship. Through the social accountability framework, he collaborates with various role players and stakeholders to engage with communities and strengthen healthcare systems.
Prof Coetzee, known for advocating for the eradication of tuberculosis and his involvement in community health projects in Delft in Cape Town, has been chosen as a 2024 Global Social Accountability Fellow. The Social Accountability Fellowship is a collaboration between The Network Toward Unity for Health (TUFH), Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and the University of Limerick in official relations with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“As one of the leaders chosen from around the world, I am dedicated to advancing the adoption and implementation of social accountability principles and standards. This initiative aims to create institutions and ecosystems that are more responsive to the needs of people and society.
“During my fellowship, I presented the urgent need to change educational strategies to prioritise social accountability. Our goal is to ensure that graduates are not only proficient in their disciplines but also committed to serving the health needs of underserved populations. Without integrating social accountability into all aspects of faculty operations, we risk worsening health inequities and missing opportunities to leverage academic resources for meaningful community impact.”
Prof Coetzee said their work is grounded in the principles of Ubuntu and social justice, emphasising humanity’s interconnectedness and the importance of community, cooperation and compassion.
“Social justice focuses on solidarity and collective action to address systemic inequalities and injustices. We advocate for the comprehensive integration of social accountability into programmes, including curriculum development, research initiatives and community involvement. “One practical approach is through student-led wellness clinics, which allow students to directly engage with and address the health needs of local communities.”
His leadership and expertise will be invaluable in guiding the PSSA’s mission to support pharmacists and advance patient care throughout South Africa.
