DR. SARAH VUGIGI

I am an industrial pharmacist, presently, a Senior Lecturer at the School of Pharmacy, Kabarak University, Kenya, and former Quality Head/Company Pharmacist for Elys Chemical Industries Ltd. Kenya. Prior to my career in pharmaceutical manufacturing, I worked as a pharmaceutical analyst at Drug Analysis Research Unit (DARU), a Ministry of Health and University of Nairobi initiative for ensuring drug quality in Kenya.

I obtained a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Nairobi, Kenya and I undertook a one-year internship   program at Dawa Limited and Nyanza provincial hospital.  Subsequently, I was posted to the Uasin Gishu Hospital (Moi Referral Hospital) Eldoret, where my role was mainly to dispense pharmaceutical products in an out-patient pharmacy. After one year stint at the hospital, I realized that I was not inclined towards hospital practice.

Basic self-evaluation was helpful in gaining understanding of my shape and design. Identifying my abilities, strengths, weaknesses, interests, passions, personality, values and evaluation of these attributes was vital in gaining clarity and direction for the future. I resonate with structure, systems/procedures and since chemistry had always been my favorite subject, it was evident that I should pursue a career either in pharmaceutical manufacturing or academia. I requested for a transfer from the hospital setting to DARU to serve as a pharmaceutical analyst, and this was granted almost immediately.

The move to DARU provided the cardinal direction for my career path. At DARU we performed analysis of pharmaceutical products, mainly KEMSA tender samples. I freely chose to pursue this path, and hence it was easy to be self-driven. I utilized this opportunity effectively. Under the guidance of Prof. Isaac Kibwage, I was trained on various analyte separation techniques, learned the use of quality control equipment such as HPLC and together, we published several scientific papers. I also got a chance to train on instrumentation for a short period in Germany and Belgium.

At this unit, the most logical career progression was specialization in pharmaceutical analysis or industrial pharmacy. I took a master’s degree in Pharmacy (Pharmaceutics) at the university of Iowa, USA, and in addition achieved certification in effective leadership by Management System International, Washington DC., courtesy of the U.S. Agency for International Development. This training was aimed at raising impactful leaders for Kenya. The technical and managerial trainings provided essential skills for the pharmaceutical industry. I was recruited to work in the pharma industry after 6 months of my return to Kenya. I worked in this industry for 25 years, in three companies; Howse & McGeorge, Cosmos Limited and Elys Chemical Industries Ltd before exiting to academia in March 2021. I joined the industry at the level of Quality Control Head and the highest leadership position I held was Company Pharmacist (Head of Quality/Regulatory Affairs).

Pharmaceutical manufacturing is a highly regulated industry and production is governed by standards that are frequently reviewed. In East Africa region, a pharmacist may be deployed in Quality Control (QC), Quality Assurance (QA), Production, Regulatory or Marketing departments.  In QC, my main responsibility was to approve pharmaceutical inputs, intermediates and finished products.  As Head of quality, my overall responsibility was to co-ordinate and superintend all activities for compliance with Good Manufacturing practices (GMP) and drug regulatory requirements and also to release pharmaceutical products for sale. In this position, teamwork, diligence, integrity and global understanding of GMP standards, regulatory requirements and market authorization procedures are mandatory. A QA Head is therefore a life-long learner and requires continuous equipping in order to be continually competent.  While in this position, I was trained in aspects of QA/GMP/regulatory affairs and served as member of several pharmaceutical committees.  Additionally, I was part time lecturer at Kenyatta University (pharmaceutics) and was awarded a PhD from the same institution in 2017. The QA Head is also responsible for training of company staff, pharmacist interns and college students during their attachment placement.  This is a strategic position for positive influence through mentorship. For the students, personal interaction with them impacts their future career decisions. Your life will demonstrate an example to follow or not to follow.

Pharmacy practice in manufacturing is unique compared to other sectors of the profession. A fresh graduate requires intensive training in GMP, production processes and other related areas.  Trainings are usually performed at the production facility and some may be organized by federations of manufacturers in the region. There are ample opportunities for pharmacists in the manufacturing industry in Kenya.  We have several pharmacists in key positions in this industry and budding pharmacists should be proactive and look for mentors. For persons interested in pursuing a career in this area, a remunerated position as an industrial pharmacist trainee for a period of 6-12 months could be arranged with a manufacturer, after which the pharmacist is considered for employment based on the agreement between the two parties.

In conclusion, it is noteworthy to mention that pharmacy practice in manufacturing should be a career path for serious consideration due to the existing opportunities and the current promotion of industrialization and local pharmaceutical production in Africa. It was very rewarding and fulfilling to work in the pharmaceutical industry. The essential attributes of a successful industrial pharmacist in my view are job competency, adherence to professional ethics and mentorship of future generations for the industry.

DR. SARAH VUGIGI