Medicines Dispenser

Accountabilities

• Dispensing medication to patients according to medical prescription, ensuring the medication is labelled with the correct drug name, strength, quantity, expiry date, directions for use and additional required information and providing clear instructions and advice on how to take the drug, when, how long, how to store, possible side-effects and any other relevant warnings. Making sure the patient understands in order to ensure correct treatment.
• Adhering to MSF practice policies and procedures for dispensing medicines, in particular those relating to controlled drugs and ensuring respect of confidentiality in dispensing
• Placing accurate and timely orders from the Central stock (Warehouse), maintaining minimum stock levels of medicines, checking expiry dates and storage conditions and ensuring no medicines or material are taken out of the dispensary without authorization
• Maintaining accurate dispensing records and regularly reporting them to his/her technical reference. Ensuring returned and out-of-date medication is safely removed to a well designated quarantine zone for unwanted pharmaceuticals, separated from the normal stock
• Organizing and keeping clean the dispensing area, ensuring cleanliness and care in handling medicines to avoid contamination and mix-up. Maintaining dispensary equipment, ensuring it is clean, accurate and in a good state of repair.
• Maintaining the integrity and security of the dispensary by admitting only authorized personnel and ensuring that all medicines are stored as appropriate. Reporting immediately to the technical reference on any problem arising in the service (especially loss, robbery, quality problems with medicines (abnormal changes in colour, consistency, and odour) damage of medical equipment or medicines).
• Carrying out Patient Therapeutic Education (PTE) and interacting with patient using a patient-based approach to accompany chronic disease (HIV, TB, etc.) patients along their visits.
• Receiving patients, informing about treatment and adherence, giving appointment for the next drug delivery. Informing the medical doctor in case of lack of adherence and identifying the reasons and finding solutions to improve adherence.
• Understanding, recording and informing on any complaint received from patients related to medicine use or side effects.

MSF Specific accountabilities 

General

• Ensure that pharmacy dispensary is properly cleaned and organized
• Maintain dispensary security by having only authorized personnel to have access in the pharmacy dispensary.
• Collaborate with relevant managers to address quality complaints related to medical items and promptly report findings to the Pharma Supervisor.
• Implement effective archiving procedures in the dispensary to ensure proper organization and storage of records.

Stock Management

• Conducting regular inventories
• Placing accurate and timely orders (Biweekly)
• Ensure proper reception of items from warehouse based on the packing list
• Ensure the prompt return of expired items to the warehouse by collaborating with the Pharmacy Supervisor
• Record daily consumption of items, share the information with the Pharma Supervisor biweekly, and ensure accurate quality documentation.

Dispensing

• Dispensing medications to patients while labelling the drug with name, strength , quantity and expiry date according to MSF Good Pharmacy Practice and Good Dispensing guidelines.
• Ensure proper patient counselling: how to take drug, frequency and storage conditions, possible side effects, severity signs and how to report it, etc..

Storage conditions

• Monitor pharmacy temperature and humidity on daily basis
• Monitoring fridge temperature and inform incase of any breakdown

Requirements

Education

• Paramedical background
• Essential diploma in pharmacy or nursing

Experience

• Working experience of at least 1 year  is essential
• Desirable experience in similar position is MSF/ NGOs

Languages                      

• Mission language desirable and local language essential

Knowledge

• Essential knowledge of basic mathematics and use of measuring equipment
• Desirable computer literacy (word, excel)

Competencies

• Results and Quality Orientation 
• Teamwork and Cooperation 
• Behavioural Flexibility 
• Commitment to MSF Principles 
• Stress Management