Health, Public Health & Safety
Essential Medicines & Pharmaceutical Policy
Selection, supply and rational use of essential medicines.
Syllabus at a glance
Around 12 weeks of guided study, typically two sessions a week plus independent work, so you can keep working while you study.
| Unit | Study block | Module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeks 1–2 | Essential medicines concepts and selection |
| 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Quantification, procurement and supply chain |
| 3 | Weeks 5–6 | Storage, expiry and pharmacovigilance |
| 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Rational prescribing and dispensing |
| 5 | Weeks 9–12 | Pharmaceutical policy, pricing and access |
Module breakdown
- 1
Essential medicines concepts and selection
Weeks 1–2Build a shared working vocabulary for essential medicines concepts and selection and set the standards this course expects of you.
What you cover
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind essential medicines concepts and selection
- Step-by-step methods and templates for essential medicines concepts and selection
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in essential medicines concepts and selection, and how to avoid them
- Applying essential medicines concepts and selection in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Case study discussion applying essential medicines concepts and selection to a local scenario.
- 2
Quantification, procurement and supply chain
Weeks 3–4Work through the methods and tools used for quantification, procurement and supply chain in day-to-day programme work.
What you cover
- Step-by-step methods and templates for quantification, procurement and supply chain
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in quantification, procurement and supply chain, and how to avoid them
- Applying quantification, procurement and supply chain in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Practical task: draft one working document related to quantification, procurement and supply chain.
- 3
Storage, expiry and pharmacovigilance
Weeks 5–6Practise storage, expiry and pharmacovigilance on realistic case material drawn from Sierra Leonean community and field settings.
What you cover
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in storage, expiry and pharmacovigilance, and how to avoid them
- Applying storage, expiry and pharmacovigilance in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your storage, expiry and pharmacovigilance work
Assessed work: Group simulation using storage, expiry and pharmacovigilance under time pressure.
- 4
Rational prescribing and dispensing
Weeks 7–8Turn rational prescribing and dispensing into documents, plans and decisions your team or employer can actually use.
What you cover
- Applying rational prescribing and dispensing in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your rational prescribing and dispensing work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind rational prescribing and dispensing
Assessed work: Portfolio entry: reflect on how you will use rational prescribing and dispensing in your role.
- 5
Pharmaceutical policy, pricing and access
Weeks 9–12Review, quality-check and improve your own pharmaceutical policy, pricing and access work with tutor and peer feedback.
What you cover
- Recording, reporting and communicating your pharmaceutical policy, pricing and access work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind pharmaceutical policy, pricing and access
- Step-by-step methods and templates for pharmaceutical policy, pricing and access
Assessed work: Guided exercise: produce a short worked example covering pharmaceutical policy, pricing and access.
Who this course is for
- • Practitioners and volunteers already working in, or moving into, this area of work.
- • Health workers, facility staff and community health volunteers.
- • School leavers and graduates building a first professional portfolio.
Entry requirements
- • Basic literacy and secondary-level education, or relevant practical work experience.
- • Access to a phone, tablet or computer for online and blended study.
- • Commitment to attend sessions and submit assignments on time.
How you are assessed
- • Short module tasks completed during the course.
- • Practical component: Facility stock and quantification exercise.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
Materials and support
- • Session handouts, checklists and templates you keep after the course.
- • Case material and worked examples based on community and field practice.
- • Tutor guidance by WhatsApp between sessions.
Certification
Learners who complete all assessments receive an SLIHSD professional certificate of completion. This records completion of an SLIHSD short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the certificate you should be able to:
- Quantify medicine needs for a facility
- Apply good storage and stock practice
- Promote rational medicine use
Practical component
Facility stock and quantification exercise.
How this programme is delivered
Online
Guided sessions and assignments you can follow from anywhere with a connection.
Face-to-face
Classroom sessions at our Mile 91 learning centre, including weekend and evening options.
Blended
A mix of online study with periodic in-person workshops, field exercises and simulations.
Ready to start Essential Medicines & Pharmaceutical Policy?
Applications for the Founding Student Intake 2026 are open. Register your interest and we will guide you to the right programme.