PIMART finally implemented, albeit with temporary limited scope

A life-saving programme whose implementation has been delayed by a few years due to litigation is finally seeing the light of day – the Director-General: Health has started processing limited-scope temporary Pharmacist-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (PIMART) permit applications from pharmacists who underwent the PIMART short course.

PIMART finally implemented, albeit with temporary limited scope

Pharmacists who completed the Pharmacist-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (PIMART) short course may now apply for temporary Section 22A(15) Permits to deliver a selection of the services available in the PIMART scope of practice.

Council wishes to advise the profession that pharmacists who have completed the PIMART short course offered by the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society (SAHCS)) can now apply for the Section 22A(15) temporary PIMART.

The Section 22A(15) temporary PIMART permit is conditional and will be issued with a limited scope of practice to provide the following PIMART services:

1. HIV Testing,

2. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP); and

3. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

The temporary permit will be valid for twenty-four (24) months from the date of implementation to allow the updating of training gaps between the short course and the accreditation criteria for the PIMART supplementary training course, given the time that has elapsed between the implementation of the initial training programme (a short course by the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society (SAHCS)) and the final implementation.

Pharmacists are to apply for a Section 22A(15) permit with the Director-General: Health and once the Director-General issues the permit, the Pharmacist must record the permit with Council.

The process for recording the temporary PIMART permit for a short course will require a certificate from the SAHCS and payment of the applicable supplementary training fee as listed in Board Notice 860 of 2025: Fees payable to SAPC for 2026.

Pharmacists who will be issued with the temporary PIMART permit will be allowed to register for the full scope of practice to provide PIMART permit services without any additional fees, provided they complete an accredited or approved bridging course.