Pharmacy Expert – Afghanistan At INTERSOS

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: Pharmacy Expert

Code: 28-5155

Duty station: Kabul, with frequent travels to field locations

Starting date: 01/05/2023

Contract duration: 6 months

Reporting to: Medical Coordinator

Dependents: non-family duty station

General context of the project

Over 40 years of conflicts and political turmoil have taken a massive cumulative toll on the people of Afghanistan. A total of 18.4 million people, almost half of the total population, have been estimated by the UN to need humanitarian assistance prior to recent events. Severe droughts are recurring in Afghanistan, currently resulting in nearly 14 million people in acute food insecurity, with over 3 million children facing severe malnourishment. The recent displacement of 550,000 people is adding to an estimated 2.9 million people who remain internally displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance, while winter months are around the corner.

INTERSOS has been working in Afghanistan since 2001, with a country office in Kabul, and field bases in Kandahar and Zabul provinces. In recent years INTERSOS has been focusing its assistance based on integrated community-based approach that includes primary health care (including sexual and reproductive health care), nutrition and protection programmes serving conflict-affected populations, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, with a special focus on socially excluded individuals, including women, children and persons living with disabilities.

With its operational approach and active engagement with the communities, INTERSOS has been enjoying strong community acceptance and operational access. All INTERSOS activities continue to be implemented in Afghanistan at present time, with no operational restrictions and with full inclusion of female staff.

It is widely anticipated that Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation may deteriorate further, given that the international support to key essential and social services – food aid, health, education, and other essential services, is currently frozen. Although humanitarian aid can not replace this gap, the international assistance that prioritises urgent humanitarian needs will be essential.

At the same time, unless the operational environment with all its impediments (including in relation to banking/cash transfers and counter-terrorism measures) does not improve, the response will continue to be a challenge.

Recognising that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan will require a more intensified international humanitarian assistance, INTERSOS remains in Afghanistan to deliver its ongoing activities, and potentially scale up its response.

General purpose of the position

The Mission Pharmacist shall ensure the overall functioning of the INTERSOS Pharmacies at central and project level, securing an adequate and timely supply of quality health consumables, equipment and medicines to the projects.

The Mission Pharmacist will be responsible for giving technical support to the pharmacy teams at field level and building capacity to respect INTERSOS procedures. The Pharmacist Expert must ensure proper pharmaceutical management (procurement, storage, distribution, inventory, consumption, and data management) for the entire mission, both at the coordination level and at operational bases and supported health structures.

The Mission Pharmacist will work closely with the logistics team to ensure the supply chain health consumables, equipment and medicines in a timely, reliable and well documented way at all levels.

Main responsibilities and tasks

Pharmaceutical Management

  • The Mission Pharmacist oversees monitoring all pharmaceutical matters regarding stock and supply across the Mission, in collaboration with the Central Pharmacists (supervised by the Mission Pharmacist) The Mission Pharmacist shall ensure that the items in stock are on good standards of humidity, safety, and temperature, acting when the indicators are not adequate or when there is shortage or overstock

Procurement

  • The Mission Pharmacist is in charge of the Medical Procurement Process from the Programs’ perspective. With the support of the Central Pharmacists, Medical Coordinator, Project Managers and other field positions, the Mission Pharmacists shall prepare the needs assessment, proposal’s budget, procurements request and choose the items from the market, in collaboration with the logistics and projects.

Training

  • The Mission Pharmacist shall work towards the development of the mission and his team, by developing presentations and trainings from the scratch or based on available models, prepare a timeline for delivering it and collect feedback for continuous improvement.

Data Analysis, Collection and Treatment:

  • Analyze the data to optimize the management of health consumables, equipment and medicines (needs assessment, purchase, control, supply, cold chain, expiry dates, overstock/shortage etc.);
  • Contribute technically to the writing of donors’ reports and proposals specifically for information on pharmacy; Have technical oversight on data collection (in/out, consumption) of bases and health facilities and ensure accurate data entry into the pharmacy management software (currently tools on excel/IMS)
  • With the Medical Coordinator improve the loan/return policies and donation of drugs and medical items.
  • Work in collaboration with the medical department to check, in relation to epidemiological data, the status of stocks and the consumptions and assess the appropriateness of prescriptions.

Mission Strategy:

  • Conduct regular assessment visits and support Central Pharmacist field visits, in order to ensure proper management of drugs at both base pharmacies as well as health facilities.
  • Provide training and technical support to the pharmacists and staff in charge of pharmacies on: Stock management, rational use of medicines, substitution and therapy options, and analysis of consumption of health facilities.
  • Provide technical support to staff in charge of pharmacies in health facilities supported INTERSOS.
  • In collaboration with Logistics department ensure proper local market assessment in time.
  • The mission pharmacist will be responsible to follow up on Inventory Management System (IMS) and to be updated in time.

Reporting and Representation

  • Ensure the appropriate filing of documentation and archives.
  • Maintain and share an annual INTERSOS pharmacy activity planning.
  • Participate in base coordination meetings.
  • Participate in external meetings related to pharmacy and INTERSOS projects (Health Cluster, etc.);
  • Participate in health team meetings.
  • Share monthly copies of all relevant data including AMC, stock reports, with the Health Coordinator and HQ Medical Unit.
  • Write a monthly activity report to be transmitted to Situation Report.

Stocks Management:

  • Conduct pharmacy assessment of the Pharmacies, focusing on: Stock movements both computerized and physical, anticipation and management of expired drugs, organization of the stock for project requirements (according with donors);
  • Develop of pharmaceutical SOP and tools for stock management of the base pharmacies and health facilities, in collaboration with project managers, training or implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
  • Support the implementation, the understanding and application of procedures and tools used at base level and health facilities supported.
  • Supervision of pharmacovigilance including the review of report concerning the quality of a drug in accordance with INTERSOS pharmaceutical management procedures;
  • Supervise the stock management of particular pharmacies (first aid kits, etc). Inform the Health Coordinator in case of irrational consumption or any misuse of pharmacy items;
  • Technical oversights on adaptation of SOP to meet the national legislation, in particular for narcotic and psychoactive medicines, ensure quality and safety;

Staff Management:

  • Conduct the appraisal of the Central Pharmacist and support the appraisal of Pharmacy Storekeeper (if any)
  • Develop an Annual Planning for the activities of the Central Pharmacist.

Supply Management:

  • Ensure in collaboration with the logistics department, procedures with the local health and administrative authorities to obtain import licenses and taxes exemption.
  • Participate in the technical inspection of local suppliers where appropriate;
  • Place orders in collaboration with the Health Coordinator and monitor the purchase orders sent to HQ in collaboration with the Logistics Coordinator;
  • Work with logistics and medical departments of the mission and Headquarters for the purchase of consumables, equipment and medicines, in accordance with INTERSOS and donors procedures;

Technical Support:

  • Draw up in collaboration with the Medical Coordinator the Job Descriptions of the members of the pharmacy team and play an active role in recruitment.
  • Strengthen the capacity of health facility teams so that they can assume duties independently and can be critical in terms of consumption.
  • Support, in collaboration with Medical Coordinator/ Logistic coordinator, the settlement of new warehouses when needed, including settlement of appropriate management tools, human resources and training implementation and follow up.
  • The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project’s needs.

Required profile and experience

Education

Mandatory: Pharmaceutical Sciences/Pharmacy Degree.​

Professional Experience

  • Minimum three (3) years of working experience in a hospital/health facility set-up or relevant position.
  • Humanitarian: Experience with Internally Displace People, volunteering on humanitarian activities and projects;
  • International: Attendance to international conferences, exchange in a different country, participation on NGOs (humanitarian, pharmaceutical, student, etc.);
  • Technical: Previous position in pharmaceutical management, such as community pharmacy, primary health care center, health and/or pharmaceutical supplier, pharmaceutical industry logistics;

Professional Requirements

  • Communication Skills: Fluent reading, speaking and writing in English for all the platforms in the mission and with partners;
  • Project Management: Skillful on planning, executing, documenting, monitoring and controlling the different steps of the pharmaceutical tasks;
  • Training Skills: Proficient on preparing and delivering presentations for staff from different departments using black/white board, flipchart, paper and PowerPoint, regarding planning, reports and training;

Languages

English mandatory and multi-language knowledge as added value​

Personal Requirements

  • Analytical skills
  • creativity
  • diplomacy
  • independency
  • initiative
  • pro-activeness
  • professionalism
  • reactiveness and take the responsibility.

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to apply following the link below: https://www.intersos.org/posizioni-aperte/missioni/#intersosorg-vacancies/vacancy-details/63ce377f5ac6cb0012a97252/

Please note that our application process is made of 3 quick stepsregister (including your name, email, password and citizenship), sign-up and apply by attaching your CV in PDF format. Through the platform, candidates will be able to track their applications’ history with INTERSOS.

Please also mention the name, position and contact details of at least three references: two line managers and one HR referent. Family members are to be excluded.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.

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