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Pharm. Mrs. Esther Bintu Foday — Acting Head of Department (Manager) PSPD
Contact:Bio:Pharm. Mrs. Esther Bintu Foday has served the Pharmacy Board since 2006 progressing from laboratory analyst to Acting Head of NQCL and now Acting Head of PSPD. With a B.Pharm (Hons) and an MSc in Environmental Management & Quality Control she leads quality testing services and supports regulatory decision‑making through GLP‑aligned systems and cross‑departmental collaboration.
The Policy Standards & Practice (PSP) Department develops reviews and operationalizes regulatory policies guidelines laws and standards that govern the practice of pharmacy and the regulation of medicines medical devices cosmetics and related products in Sierra Leone. PSP coordinates with technical departments to ensure that national requirements and international best practices are consistently reflected in implementation.
Core Functions:
1. Review and update policies guidelines laws and regulations and ensure their effective implementation across departments.
2. Supervise and coordinate the national Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme for pharmacists and allied personnel.
3. Identify priority Pharmacy Board issues for research—designing and managing studies in collaboration with other departments to inform policy and regulatory action.
4. Supervise the internship programme and administer pre‑registration examinations for new professionals.
5. Convene and manage the Application Committee to screen and verify applicants seeking Pharmacy Board licenses and permits.
Units of the Department:
Screens and processes applications for new pharmaceutical premises (community pharmacies wholesale outlets factories and related facilities) ensuring compliance with licensing requirements premises standards personnel qualifications and documentation prior to Board approval.
Leads periodic review and updating of policies guidelines laws and regulations; coordinates evidence‑based studies and cross‑departmental research on priority regulatory issues; and translates findings into practical standards advisories and implementation tools.
Designs coordinates and supervises the internship programme; sets training objectives and rotations; conducts assessments and pre‑registration examinations; and issues eligibility recommendations for professional registration.