Medicines Dispenser - Back up Pool

Main Purpose

The medicine Dispenser will provide an accurate, timely, and qualitative dispensing service of drugs according to medical prescriptions and MSF protocols, standards and procedures in order to improve the patient’s health conditions

Accountabilities

-Dispensing medication to patients according to medical prescription, ensuring the medication is labeled 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 with the central stock, 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 Ensuring returned and out-of-date medication is safely removed to a well designated quarantine zone for unwanted pharmaceuticals, separated from the normal stock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 Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

1.Stock Management :

• Conducting inventory and biweekly orders for Burj Hammoud and Burj el Barajneh Dispensaries  avoiding drug ruptures
• Filling the order tool of both dispensaries on bi-weekly basis avoiding discrepencies and forecasting the order needs as per the activity
• Ensuring that expired items/returned items are retunrned back to warehouse in timely manner
• Registering the consumption of items on daily basis and share it with the pharma supervisor on monthly basis
• Sharing consumption fluctation with supervisor upon need 
• Enusring that all kits are updated and refilled in timley manner

1. Dispensing

• Dispensing medications to patients following the prescription while labeling the drug with name, strength , quantity and expiry date
• Educating patients on how to take drug , frequency and storage conditions
• Highlighting possible side effects of the medication
• Following SOP of controlled drug whenever dispensing high alert medications

1. Storage conditions :

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

1. General :

• Keeping pharmacy clean and organized
• Maintaining dispensary security by having only authorized personnel in
• Reporting to the pharmacy supervisor quality complains if any
• Filling the dispensary monthly report
• In collaberation with the pharmacy supervisor and manager , maintaining the quality of care through prescription audits whenever needed
• Covering the Gaps of other medicine dispensers in both location upon need

Requirements

Education:

• Paramedical background ( Pharmacist , Nurse , Lab technician or relevant degree)

Experience

• Working experience of at least 1 year  is essential

Languages

• Essential English language level B2 and fluency in  Arabic required

Knowledge

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

Competencies

• Essential knowledge of basic mathematics and use of measuring equipment
• Desirable computer literacy (word, excel)
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Teamwork and Cooperation
• Behavioural Flexibility
• Commitment to MSF Principles
• Stress Management