[2] The goal of the association "is to meet members' needs, encourage personal and professional growth and provide information about events, issues and continuous education opportunities, industrial news, and a wide variety of membership activities, and to ensure the well-care of patients".
The total number of association members is reaching 400 pharmacists out of Mauritius' population of nearly 1,300,000 inhabitants.
The objects of the Association shall be: 1.1 to promote the advancement system of education compatible with the practice of Pharmacy in Mauritius and to arrange for pharmacists to kept in touch with Modern trend in pharmacy; 1.3 to advise and safeguard the interest of pharmacists practicing in Mauritius; 1.4 to see to it that quality of drugs be maintained in the interests of the public; 1.5 to maintain and promote the dignity of the profession and to encourage continuous development of pharmacists; 1.6 to engage in health promotional activities; 1.7 to liaise with other health authorities in Mauritius and other similar professional and non-professional bodies in Mauritius and abroad in order to serve the profession.
1.9 to find ways and means to help widows and orphans of members in need; and 1.10 to do all such things that are conductive to the attainment of the above objects.
The Association shall be administered by a Managing Committee composed of eleven (11) members to be elected every year at the Annual General Meeting.
The postmark date or any acknowledgement of receipt of the candidature or motion, under paragraph 2 above, by the Secretary shall be proof of such notification within the required time limit.
Any vacancy in excess of three in any term of office shall be filled in by election at a special general meeting convened for the purpose.
Managing Committee members may be removed and replaced by a majority vote given at a special general meeting.
At a written and motivated request signed by three members of the Managing Committee, the President shall cause a meeting of the Managing Committee to be convened within a fortnight from the date of the request, failing which the signatories may themselves convene the meeting in accordance with paragraph 10 above.
No person who is an undischarged bankrupt, or has, within the three preceding years, been convicted of any offence involving fraud or dishonesty shall be qualified to become an officer or having been so appointed or elected shall continue to act as such.
17.2 In case of a tie for the appointment of any position in the Managing Committee, at such meeting the issue shall be settled by a draw of lots.
The Managing Committee is empowered: 1.1 subject to paragraph 2 - 1.1.1 to invest the funds of the Association in recognized securities; 1.1.2 to lease or to take on lease to let movable immovable properly; 1.2 to accept donations and legacies from any source provided that such donations and legacies are free from any conditions detrimental to the objects of the Association; 1.3 to appoint such staff as it may deem fit and proper and fix their remuneration and other conditions of service; 1.4 to set up sub-committees and ad-hoc committees with such terms of reference and on such issues as it may deem fit provided that such committees shall submit reports to the Managing Committee on the matters referred to them.
The Managing Committee shall not be empowered to dispose, pledge, mortgage or charge any property worth more than three thousand rupees (or any amount that any subsequently be provided for in the relevant law) and belonging to the Association unless such transaction has been approved by 'special resolution' in accordance with Section 30 of the Registration of Associations Act.
A special general meeting shall be called whenever - 2.1 the Managing Committee so decided; 2.2 there is a written and motivated request signed by not less than ten per cent of the number of compliant members, in which case, the Managing Committee shall cause the meeting to be convened and held within one month from the date of request.
Subject to the provisions of the Registration of Associations Act, thirty percent (30%) of the number of compliant members, present in person or represented, shall constitute a quorum for any general meeting.
Voting by proxy at general meetings shall be allowed subject to Section 28(3) of the Registration of Associations Act and to paragraphs 4 and 5 below.
The President shall - 1.1 preside over all meetings of the Association; 1.2 at the Annual General Meeting, submit a report on the working of the Association for the preceding accounting period, together with a statement of accounts drawn up and signed by the Treasurer and certified by the Auditor 2.
The Treasurer shall - 1.1 have the custody of all the accounting books and records of the Association; 1.2 receive all sums of money due or accruing to the Association and deliver receipts thereof; 1.3 within the least possible delay, pay into one or more of the local banks, chosen by the Managing Committee, the money received by him; 1.4 be allowed to keep in his possession a sum not exceeding one thousand rupees (Rs 100), as cash in hand for petty expenses; 1.5 lay before the Managing Committee at its monthly meeting; 1.5.1 a statement showing the financial transactions of the last month; 1.5.2 a list of all members who are in arrears with their subscriptions for three months or more; 1.6 keep a 'Register of Members' as prescribed by law; 1.7 prepare the statement of accounts; 1.8 effect all payments exceeding one hundred rupees by cheque; 1.9 produce his books and related documents for examination whenever required by the President or by the Auditor; 1.10 in conjunction with the President, sign all cheques, deeds and other documents of the Association.
The Auditor shall - 6.1 make a thorough examination of all the books and documents in the custody of the Treasurer at least once yearly and shall forthwith report to the Managing Committee through the President any error or omission detected in the course of the examination; 6.2 verify and certify all statements of accounts prior to their being submitted to the Annual General Meeting; 6.3 draw an inventory of all the belongings of the Association, in conjunction with the Treasurer, at least once yearly.
In the event of winding up of the Association, all its property, movable or immovable, its cash at bank and in hand, shall be disposed of in conformity with law.
The President and the Treasurer shall jointly sign all cheques, deeds and other documents legally binding the Association.
Any member who resigns or who is expelled shall have no claims to a refund of any contribution, monetary or otherwise, made by him to the Association in any way.
PAM works in close collaboration with the Pharmacy Board, the Pharmacy Council of Mauritius and the Ministry Of Health and Wellness on different matters, such as The National Pharmacovigilance, Antimicrobial Stewardship, National Health Accounts and The Continuous Professional Development courses.
Friday, October 18, 2024 – Hilton Hotel, Flic en Flac, Mauritius[8] Demographic transitions and lifestyle changes over recent decades have significantly reshaped public health.
These shifts have led to a new ranking of health burdens, considering morbidity and their economic and societal impacts.
Several factors contribute to this significant treatment gap, including a lack of understanding and awareness of symptoms among the population, often accompanied by strong cultural beliefs and prejudices, which further exacerbate stigma.
Prescription complexity and issues surrounding the availability and accessibility of essential medicines must also be addressed.
The challenge for health systems to curb the rising prevalence of psychiatric and neurological disorders begins with improving patient care.
Given the avoidable mortality and morbidity associated with these issues, priorities must include more reliable epidemiological data for primary prevention, early screenings, increased access to treatments, and targeted therapeutic education.
It is time to assess the situation in Mauritius and engage in discussions with specialists from the Indian Ocean region and international experts regarding the current state of affairs and the challenges ahead.