Pharmacist

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Mar. 30, 2023

Job Description

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The UN Clinic was established to provide competent primary health care services in Zimbabwe for UN personnel and their eligible dependents. The clinic is mandated with the provision of workplace occupational health care management systems and structures, to ensure a robust response mechanism to staff and dependents health challenges. Whilst curative care is equally important, special emphasis has always been on promotive and preventive health care management services.

The UN family in Zimbabwe has not been spared by the COVID-19 pandemic and this saw the need to enhance the capacity of the UN Clinic staff. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, extra staff was hired for the UN Clinic on a temporary basis to augment the existing medical staff to strengthen the fight against the pandemic. This staff structure was partly maintained as a measure of preparedness against future waves of COVID-19 , other pandemics and leverage the effects of the deterioration of the health delivery system in the country. The economic situation in the country has also seen alarming exodus of health care personnel including doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, nurses’ aides etc. This situation makes our roster ineffective with difficulties to get the selected health personnel when needed. The additional staff will be required to start as soon as possible and continue for the period covering 12 months. This is to ensure that adequate care is given as and when needed to UN Staff and dependents.

Duties and Responsibilities

Developing, updating and implementing a mission list for drugs and medical consumables, based on generic drugs produced according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
Develops and maintains a system for ongoing inspections of drug safety in all duty station medical facilities.
Storing and record keeping of stocks; following international standards
Accounting for the applicable medical supplies and equipment according to recommended guidelines.
Participating in logistics operations pertaining to the management of expired supplies and re-distribution of medical supplies in the UN clinic.
Prepares timely and accurate reports.

Dispensary Services:

Monitoring the consumption of drugs, laboratory reagents, medical and surgical consumables at the UN Dispensary.
Assisting the health team in the treatment and side effect monitoring.
Dispensing valid prescriptions and medical supplies to patients of UN Clinic
Ensure a proper and safe disposal of hazardous material and medical waste in close coordination with the Medical Doctor and Nurses and Lab technicians,

Advisory Services to the Management of all UN Agencies:

Offers day-to-day advice on pharmaceutical issues including evaluating different antibiotics for impact on the local microbiological situation, and secures that mission personnel do not unnecessarily influence the ecological balance through the use of antibiotics.
Responsible for advising the Medical Doctor in the specification of drugs to be requisitioned, and for offering a prudent scale of issue for the planning of re-supply.

Planning and supply of drugs, medical supplies and consumables

Through proactive planning and facilitation of an unimpeded supply of drugs, medical supplies, medical consumables, vaccines, condoms (male and female) and blood in the field mission.
Prepare Annual Procurement Plan for procurement of medicines, diagnostics and medical supplies and supervise its implementations.
Contribute to pandemic preparedness planning and implementation, for the UN population, when and where required in conjunction with WHO.

Other Services:

Supply, replenish, and update all medical kits in all duty stations within the country, including medical kits for UN official vehicles.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree or equivalent qualification.
Current registration without restrictions with the Pharmacists Council of Zimbabwe to practice in Zimbabwe or another UN member state is required.
Current registration without restrictions with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe
A minimum of six years of experience in working in a pharmacy
Experience in developing, updating and implementing a mission list for drugs and medical consumables, based on generic drugs produced according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
Experience in dispensing valid prescriptions and medical supplies to patients.
Experience in monitoring the consumption of drugs, laboratory reagents, medical and surgical consumables.
In-depth knowledge of the proper and safe disposal of hazardous material and medical waste
Knowledge on pharmaceutical issues including evaluating different antibiotics for impact on the local microbiological situation.
Experience in proactive planning and facilitation of an unimpeded supply of drugs, medical supplies, medical consumables, vaccines, condoms (male and female) etc.
Demonstrated experience in working with people of different national and cultural background.
Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in dispensing and management of pharmaceuticals
Demonstrated experience in quality assurance of health products.
Knowledge and experience in monitoring consumption of drugs and other medical and surgical consumables
Previous work experience in the UN/NGO environment is an added advantage.
Knowledge and experience in the usage of computers and good knowledge of relevant medical databases

Required Language(s):

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in Shona and or Ndebele required.

Professional Certificates:

Post graduate training Diploma/certificate in a relevant health-related field, e.g., Public Health, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Economics or equivalent.