Mission Pharmacy Manager

Introduction about MSF:

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / أطباء بلا حدود  is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people in 70 countries who are affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation and our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.

We offer basic healthcare, perform surgery, fight epidemics, rehabilitate and run hospitals and clinics, carry out vaccination campaigns, operate nutrition centers, and provide mental healthcare. Our activities include the treatment of injuries and disease, maternal care and the provision of humanitarian aid. Where necessary, we set up sanitation systems, supply safe drinking water, and distribute relief to assist survival.

Main Objective of the position:

The Mission Pharmacy Manager  will be responsible for defining, coordinating and monitoring all pharmacy related activities in the Mission, according to MSF standards and values, the Medical Coordinator instructions and with consideration of national and international laws and regulations, in order to ensure the quality and proper organisation of medical supply process, procedures and protocols, the proper management of the medical stock in the projects and, in collaboration with the medical coordinator, the correct use of medicines and medical material.

Accountabilities:

• Supporting the HoM and MedCo in coordinating with the Ministry of Public health (MoPH)and other local authorities as well as representing and defending MSF’s interests before the MoPH and other local authorities or the supply team for coordinating with local suppliers for any issue concerning pharmaceutical supply, in order to ensure stock procurement in the projects while complying with the national laws and regulations and following MSF protocols. En-suring a close follow up of the National and international Drug Supply particularly in projects where MSF is working in conjunction with MoPH. Collaborating in budgeting and preparing drug and other medical material orders together with Medical, Supply and Logistic Coordinators, project medical referents and pharmacists.

• Supervising the running of the pharmacies across the mission, ensuring the proper implementation of MSF Safety standards, including pharmacovigilance follow up and waste management protocols, and to national and international legislation, in order to ensure the quality of the service given to the population and the accurate handling of drugs and products, including its proper disposal, in terms of hygiene and security. Given the integration of medical stock under the supply, this includes close involvement in the medical warehouse as regards procedures, operations and stock management but not direct supervision of same. Supporting the Medical Coordinator regarding the follow-up of EPREP planning and maintenance of medical emergency kits including replenishment orders.

• Supporting and participating in all drug and medical material supply processes according to the mission’s yearly sup-ply chronogram and ensuring its overall efficiency and effectiveness. This involves regular technical visits to project sites (MSF clinics or supported PHCCs part of the national PHC network) and warehouses to ensure appropriate follow up of activities and management of field pharmacies; collecting and analysing stock indicators according to physical records and logistic across different projects and together with the Medical Coordinator taking corrective decisions when necessary and providing technical pharmacy support regarding pharmaceutical information, medication use (protocols and rational drug use), management of side effects, adherence issues etc.

• Ensuring the collection of data for monitoring and surveillance of optimal quantity of medicine use. Supporting activi-ties at service level for effective drug distribution and control, quality prescription (rational drug use), medicines recon-ciliation, antibiotic stewardship interventions such as restricted use antibiotic review, follow up of pharmaceutical care plans, patient counseling, good dispensing practices and safe medication practices.

• In coordination with the Supply department, monitoring and advising in relation with the procurement process and taking corrective measures when needed, ensuring regular communication with Medical, Logistics, HR and Finance departments regarding Medical Supply and Pharmacy Management. Supporting the Medical Coordinator in order to ensure local medical purchases are made from approved sources, subject to approval of Section Pharmacist.

• Being responsible for the good maintenance of all drugs and equipment in the pharmacies and the appropriate stor-age and management of supply of narcotic and psychotropic medication with respect to national legislation, permitting traceability for these specific products.

• Facilitating correct stock management and transport/storage procedures, in order to ensure the availability of stock in all projects and to avoid expiries/overstocks and stock-outs. Ensuring that all inventories of drugs and medical devices exist and are updated as per the chronogram in place.

• In close collaboration with Supply and Logistics Department, supervising storage conditions (e.g. humidity, temperature, light exposure, cleanliness, pest and rodents control, stock security, maintenance of cold chain, etc.), classification, organization and inventory, in order to guarantee the quality of the medicines and other medical material and prevent damage, financial losses generated by expired items, deterioration and robbery.

• Being responsible for follow-up of loans/donations and management of expired medications according to MSF procedures (and national legislation in case of expired drugs).

• Planning and supporting, in close coordination with the HR department and project teams, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication and gap filling) of the staff in the pharmacy teams  in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required. Given the integration of medical stock under the supply, this includes providing support to Supply Log in this capacity to ensure the medical stock and pharmacy management according to recommended guide lines/procedures.

• Participating in reporting according to MSF guidelines on monthly and quarterly basis (SitReps, medical statistical re-ports, etc.) and reporting on drug consumption and medical devices dispensed according to protocols, informing on unusual patterns.

MSF Context Specific Accountabilities:

• Providing direct support to medical teams and other departments in cases of emergency response.

• Contributing to compiling monitoring reports that serve the advocacy strategy’s priorities in the mission.

• Supporting the staff health teams for the management of the related stock and replenishment of staff health related medical supplies kits.

Requirements:

Education:

Essential: Pharmacy degree, license to practice as a pharmacist by the Ministry of Public health in Lebanon and updated (2023) proof of registration at the Order of pharmacists in Lebanon.

Experience:

Essential : Demonstrated two years’ experience in pharmacy management,

Desirable: Previous experience in clinical (hospital and OPD) pharmacy.Previous experience with MSF or other NGO’s in developing countries, in NCD and MHPSS care.

Languages:

Fluency in Arabic and English required

Knowledge

•Essential computer literacy (word, excel, internet)

•Desirable knowledge of “Isy stock”

Competencies :

People Management and Development, Commitment to MSF Principles, Behavioural Flexibility, Results and Quality Orientation & Teamwork and Cooperation