Pharmacy Technologist Right to Care Zambia

ABOUT US
Right to Care is at the vanguard in supporting and delivering prevention, care, and treatment services for HIV and associated diseases. We work with government and communities to find pioneering solutions to build and strengthening public healthcare.

We embrace a strong entrepreneurial culture and focuses on innovation and the use of technology to enhance services, address skills shortages, and deliver quality healthcare outcomes. Our areas of expertise include HIV and TB care and treatment, pharmacy automation, medical male circumcision, and cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment.

In 2021, Right to Care Zambia was awarded a five-year project funded by USAID through the PEPFAR mechanism. The USAID Action HIV project aims to reduce HIV mortality, morbidity and transmission by achieving the UNAIDS and PEPFAR goal of 95/95/95 HIV treatment coverage by providing comprehensive HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment maintenance services in Luapula, Northern and Muchinga provinces of Zambia. The USAID Action HIV project will work closely with and in support of the Ministry of Health.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Minimum Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Diploma in Pharmacy
• Registration with the Health Professions Council of Zambia
• HIV Treatment & Care, ART and Essential Medicines experience
• 3 years’ experience
• Previous public sector experience preferably within HIV field

Desirable Qualifications and Experience:

• Diploma in Pharmacy
• Registration with the Health Professions Council of Zambia
• HIV Treatment & Care, ART and Essential Medicines experience
• 3 years’ experience
• Previous public sector experience preferably within HIV field

TECHNICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

• Excellent communication skills
• Client orientated.
• Good planning, organizing and decision-making skills.
• High quality standard of work
• Computer literate – MS Office and call center programmes
• Good understanding of Medicines and Related Substances Legislation
• Be able to work within the framework of a team

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Conduct ongoing assessments and situational analysis to identify gaps within the supply chain system.
• Develop quality improvement plans (QIPs) for identified gaps.
• Implement strategies to effectively manage stock and ensure quality and safety of pharmaceutical products in the clinics.
• Ensure compliance with good pharmacy practices and good dispensing practices.
• Assist facilities with stock rotation and re-distribution.
• Ensure availability of provincial primary health care (PHC) pharmacy standard operating procedures (SOPs), Standard Treatment Guidelines
• (STGs) and Essential Medicines List (EML) in all facilities
• Assist facilities with stock take procedures as outlined in the SOP.
• Perform site supervisory visits.
• Issuing medicines to patients, furnishing information and advice to patients about the use of medicines.
• Counselling patients on the proper use of drugs they are taking.
• Determining patient compliance with the therapy and follow up to ensure that patient’s medicine related needs are being met.
• Evaluating patient’s medicine related needs by determining the indications, safety and effectiveness of therapy.
• Document medication errors and interventions made during dispensing.
• On-going adherence monitoring of patients.
• Involvement in Pharmacovigilance activities.
• Clinical Pharmacy to ensure efficacy, safety and continued access to ARVs for inpatients.
• Ensure continuous supply of medication for patients accessing care from pharmacy and areas that we support.
• Facilitate multidisciplinary team approach to patient care
• Stakeholder engagements and meetings e.g. MoH, MSL, ZAMRA, Partners etc.
• Compile monthly statistics and reports and forward to relevant persons
• Overall Pharmacy staff management and support
• Plan, organize and approve leave of junior staff
• Ensure monthly and weekly task allocation of Pharmacy staff
• Performance appraisals for staff.
• Continued evaluation and monitoring of Pharmacy systems i.e. waiting times, prescription errors etc.
• Perform ongoing assessments for measuring impact of interventions and outcomes thereof for continuous self- improvement.
• To support and Monitor facility pharmacy / clinical staff.
• Supports the implementation of alternative access to chronic medicines (e.g. ART Adherence clubs, Demonstration projects (CCMDD, Interval Study, HIV Self-Test Study) and ART Community support groups
• Coordinates the implementation of DMAD projects (e.g. MMSD and CCMDD
• Provides training and mentorship on DMAD projects
• Compiles Monthly/weekly reports on the implemented DMAD projects
• Provide data for indicators for DSR and WSR meetings on supply Chain updates
• Compile weekly /monthly stock status reports
• Report and submit pharmacovigilance information and data