Pharmacy Manager at Medecins Sans Frontieres

Main Purpose

• Defining, coordinating and monitoring all pharmacy related activities in the Mission, according to MSF standards and values, In collaboration with Pharmacy & Medical coordinator instructions and with consideration of national and international laws and regulations, in order to ensure the quality and proper organisation of medical supply process, procedures and protocols, the proper management of the medical stock in the projects and the correct use of medicines and medical material.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Supporting the PharmaCo and MedCo in representing and defending MSF’s interests before the Ministry of Health and other local authorities or local suppliers for any issue concerning pharmaceutical supply, in order to ensure stock procurement in the projects while complying with the national laws and regulations and following MSF protocols.
• Ensuring a close follow up of the National Drug Supply particularly in projects where MSF is working in conjunction with MoH.
• Collaborating in budgeting and preparing drug and other medical material orders together with Medical and Logistic Coordinators.
• Supervising the running of the pharmacies across the mission, ensuring the proper implementation of MSF Safety standards, incl. pharmacovigilance follow up and waste management protocols, and to national and international legislation, in order to ensure the quality of the service given to the population and the accurate handling of drugs and products, including its proper disposal, in terms of hygiene and security. In case of integration of medical stock under the supply, this includes close involvement in the medical warehouse as regards procedures, operations and stock management but not direct supervision of same.
• Supporting the Medical Coordinator regarding the follow-up of EPREP planning and maintenance of medical emergency kits.
• Supporting and participating in all drug and medical material supply processes and ensuring its overall efficiency and effectiveness. This involves regular technical visits to project sites to ensure appropriate follow up of activities and management of field pharmacies; collecting and analyzing stock indicators according to physical records and logistic across different projects and together with the Medical Coordinator taking corrective decisions when necessary and providing technical pharmacy support regarding pharmaceutical information, medication use (protocols and rational drug use), management of side effects, adherence issues etc.
• Ensuring the collection of data for monitoring and surveillance of optimal quantity & quality of medicine use.
• Supporting activities at service level for effective drug distribution and control, quality prescription (rational drug use), medicines reconciliation, antibiotic stewardship interventions such as restricted use antibiotic review, follow up of pharmaceutical care plans, patient counseling, good dispensing practices and safe medication practices.
• Monitoring the procurement process and taking corrective measures when needed, ensuring regular communication with Medical, Logistics, HR and Finance departments regarding Medical Supply and Pharmacy Management.
• Supporting the Medical Coordinator in order to ensure local medical purchases are made from approved sources, subject to approval of Section Pharmacist
• Being responsible for the good maintenance of all drugs and equipment in the pharmacies and the appropriate storage and management of supply of narcotic and psychotropic medication with respect to national legislation, permitting traceability for these specific products.
• Facilitating correct stock management and transport/storage procedures, in order to ensure the availability of stock in all projects and to avoid expiries/overstocks and stock-outs.
• Ensuring that all inventories of drugs and medical devices exist and are updated. In close collaboration with Logistics Department, supervising storage conditions (e.g. humidity, temperature, light exposure, cleanliness, pest and rodents control, stock security, maintenance of cold chain, etc.), classification, organization and inventory, in order to guarantee the quality of the medicines and other medical material and prevent damage, financial losses generated by expired items, deterioration and robbery.
• Being responsible for follow-up of loans/donations and management of expired medications according to MSF procedures (and national legislation in case of expired drugs)
• Planning and supervising, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication) of the staff under his/her responsibility in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required. In case of integration of medical stock under the
• supply, this includes providing support to Supply Log in this capacity to ensure the medical stock and pharmacy management according to recommended guide lines/procedures
• Participating in reporting according to MSF guidelines (SitReps, medical statistical reports, etc.) and reporting on drug consumption and medical devices dispensed according to protocols, informing on unusual patterns

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

• Support the Pharmacy Coordinator in ensuring compliance with Nigerian pharmaceutical regulations, including NAFDAC, Med WH licencing with Pharmacy council of Nigeria (PCN) and follow up on controlled drugs permits, this include but not limited to the annual NAFDAC wavier application and its registration on online portal.
• Support the implementation of the MedOrder tool, CDSP, DART, revision of Medical Standard List (hospital formulary), & support the pharmacy & Medical coordinator for medical forecast & budgeting, with first line direct responsible EPREP/kits/stock management.
• Provide technical support to project pharmacy teams on stock management, analysis, and loss reduction (expiries, overstock, ruptures, stock swaps among OCB projects), with need based field visits.
• Collaborate with Supply and intersectional pharmacy to strengthen international medical supplies importation and local purchasing processes.
• To ensure compliance with national pharmaceutical regulations, including FMoH and the Control Items Board, through the effective implementation of tools for narcotics and controlled medicines, and by promoting Good Pharmacy Practices (GPP) and Good Storage and Distribution Practices (GSDP) across the mission, pharmaceutical waste management /disposal in line with local regulation.

Minimum Required Skills and Qualifications
Educational Qualification:

• Essential: Pharmacy Degree (Bachelor in Pharmacy, B-pharm or Doctor in Pharmacy- Pharma-D) and must be licenced by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.

Experience:

• Essential: Minimum of two years managerial or Supervisory experience in hospital or with pharmacy management. Previous experience with MSF or another NGO in a developing-country context as a Pharmacy Supervisor.
• Desirable: Previous experience with MSF or another NGO in a developing-country context as a Pharmacy Manager.

Languages:

• English Language essential