Industrial attachment is one of the mandatory training programmes in pursuing Bachelor of Pharmacy degree offered at Makerere University in which students are allowed to have usually a one month practical experience at an allocated pharmaceutical industry so as to enrich their knowledge of the theoretical aspects already discussed during the university program. Our training only took two weeks due some inconsistencies on the side of the pharmacy department and limited slots offered by the company. Some of the key learning areas included aspects of cGMP, and drug manufacturing unit processes. I had the opportunity to train at CIPLA quality chemicals in luzira. It was a great opportunity witnessing all the cGMP aspects being put into practice at the state-of-the-art pharmaceutical industry. Indispensably, I got to know and strengthen my relations with other trainees including those from other universities and the staff at CiplaQCIL, together with the production officers, site supervisor and company pharmacist. Practical skills were greatly enhanced especially in the areas of quality control tests done, with other methods of learning that included; lectures, discussions, hands on and observations. I was able to visit almost all departments in the industry from which my learning was based. My experience at the company was simply one of the best with the great hospitality of the employees and management. CiplaQCIL is one of the best industries in Africa offering new and affordable medicines being manufactured in a WHO cGMP certified facility. It currently manufactures anti-malarial, antiretrovirals (ARVs) and anti-hepatitis B medicines with plans to venture in other areas. As one of its mandates in offering services to the people, CiplaQCIL offers internship training in various fields such as pharmacy, industrial chemistry, information technology, human resource management, environmental health, human resource management, and engineering among others.

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