The Centre for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services (CPBS) is a structure within the Faculty of Health Sciences responsible for the managing of all pharmaceutical and biomedical related commercial services. The various services are managed as independent business units responsible for selling laboratory, clinical, training, consultation and related services for profit to clients. Although CPBS is service-orientated and seeks to address the pharmaceutical and biomedical needs of national and international communities, CPBS also acts as a vehicle for generating external income for the Faculty of Health Sciences and North-West University (NWU).
CPBS has various national and international pharmaceutical companies, the cosmetic industry, procurement organisations, medicine regulatory authorities, private medical practitioners, pathology practices and the Department of Health as clients.
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Mission of CPBS
CPBS seeks to commercialise pharmaceutical and biomedical expertise, services and innovation profitably, sustainably and in an entrepreneurial manner. This is achieved by utilising resources optimally, managing effectively, remaining strategically positioned, and being quality driven at all times.
Units within CPBS
The Research Institute for Industrial Pharmacy is incorporated in the Centre for Quality Assurance of Medicine (RIIP/CENQAM)
RIIP®/CENQAM® is the biggest, most modern and best equipped pharmaceutical service provider in South Africa. The institute provides pharmaceutical quality control laboratory and related services to national and international pharmaceutical companies, non-governmental organisations, procurement agencies and the South African Medicines Regulatory Authority as well as other regional
medicines regulatory authorities.
RIIP®/CENQAM® is designated as a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for the Quality Assurance of Medicines and as a WHO prequalified quality control laboratory and it provides services to WHO member states globally. The Collaborating Centre makes an exceptional contribution to the quality assurance of medicine and capacity building, particularly in the Africa region, through both analytical and training services that are provided at the request of the WHO.
RIIP®/CENQAM® is trademarked and registered with the South African Department of Trade and Industry as well as accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) as ISO 17025 compliant.
The Clinical Pharmacokinetics Laboratory (CPL):
The Clinical Pharmacokinetics Laboratory (CPL) was established in 1977, as part of the Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy at the North-West University. The laboratory initially provided an independent drug blood level and pharmacokinetic advisory service to the South African National Epilepsy League (SANEL). Currently services extend to medical practitioners, private laboratories, national state laboratories (e.g. National Health Laboratory Services) and hospitals.
CPL has extensive experience in drug blood level monitoring of anti-epileptic medicines in particular and supplemented by the services of a pharmacokineticist, the CPL provides Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) services on request to add value to anti-epileptic therapy by enabling the physician to adjust or change medication meaningfully
The World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Quality Assurance of Medicines
The Centre provides pharmaceutic analytical and consultation services to the WHO and its clients. The collaboration centre makes an exceptional contribution to the quality assurance of medicine, particularly in the Africa region, through both analytical and training services that are provided at the request of the WHO.
Cosmetic Efficacy Laboratory (CEL)
The Cosmetic Efficacy Laboratory (CEL) is an independent clinical cosmetics testing laboratory managed within the Centre for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services section at North-West University (NWU). The laboratory possesses state-of-the-art non-invasive electronic measuring equipment for the evaluation of skin parameters related to cosmetics.