14 Nov 2025

Refiloe Mogale

My journey in pharmacy began more than two decades ago, shaped by both opportunity and the willingness to serve wherever I was needed. I have found myself at the intersection of systemic gaps, but also at the heart of transformation and growth. After completing my studies at the University of the Witwatersrand and interning at Kalafong Tertiary Hospital, I realised that the quality of mentorship and the environment in which you work in your early career leaves a lasting impression. I had a strict but principled tutor who instilled in me respect for the profession, something I have carried with me to this day.  

I returned to Mpumalanga, where my journey truly began, not in the comfort of city hospitals, but in the rural, often forgotten corners of the province. I was deployed to Piet Retief Hospital, a facility that had never had a permanent pharmacist before. There were no qualified assistants, no standard operating procedures, and limited support structures in place. With only a general assistant to help, I built a team by training three unemployed youth from scratch. Today, they are qualified pharmacy assistants, continuing to serve their community. That experience taught me that leadership is not defined by resources and position, but by impact. 

Over the years, I have taken on roles and grown within the pharmacy sector. I managed pharmacies in various hospitals, each with its challenges, ranging from high patient volumes to resistance to new systems. In one of the hospitals, I introduced changes that improved patient flow and reduced waiting times; these changes were initially met with scepticism but were later recognised with an award. In another hospital, I encountered culture shock where I had to defend a medicine supply policy to a local chief, only to be dismissed for wearing trousers instead of a dress. I learnt that when systems are not working, you don't wait to be told to fix them. You lead. 

My leadership journey extended beyond hospital walls. I served as depot manager, overseeing pharmaceutical supply services to public health facilities across the province. I was responsible for managing the medicine budget, ensuring compliance, and facilitating the relocation of the warehouse from one town to another, 100 km away, which was one of my most fulfilling professional milestones. However, this position was affected by political interference. I then transitioned into another role as pharmaceutical services manager, where I supported over 90 health facilities, providing technical advice, mentoring pharmacists, and ensuring that pharmaceutical services remained effective, efficient, and accountable. 

Alongside these responsibilities, I have had the privilege of contributing to the profession more broadly. I have served as the branch chairperson of the Association of Hospital Pharmacists and later as its National President. I also served as the Deputy President of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa, where I currently hold the position of executive director. These roles have been humbling and affirming, as they allow me to give back to the profession that has shaped me.  

Looking ahead, I hope to continue growing both personally and professionally. Studying further is very important to me, as I believe we need more spaces where women pharmacists are heard and seen, not just as operational leads but as strategic decision-makers. To the next generation of women in pharmacy and science: your journey may not always be linear or straightforward, but every step, every challenge, and every success matters. Our work is not just about dispensing medicines; it is about shaping systems, opening doors, and leaving something better than we found it. And that, for me, is worth celebrating. 

Executive Director, Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa