Pharmacy Assistant

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW   

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research, and technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries, all 50 U.S. states, and all U.S. territories. FHI 360’s Crisis Response team has been responding to the humanitarian emergency in Northern Ethiopia through an integrated health, nutrition, WASH, and Protection project to meet the critical needs of the conflict-affected population. FHI 360 is also operating in Somali Region in Eastern Ethiopia to meet the immediate needs of the drought-affected population and is implementing integrated humanitarian programming with the Ethiopia-based national organization, Pastoralist Concern (PC).

Summary of the position:

Under supervision of senior pharmaceutical officer, the pharmacy assistant will support health and nutrition programing in Filtu of Somali region. The pharmacy assistant will manage the pharmaceutical warehouse and carry out daily activities in pharmaceutical/ medical warehouses. He/she will receive pharmaceuticals, store them according to guidelines, issue to health facilities and follow their proper utilization. He/she will maintain a good record of receiving, storing and dispatching of medical items at the warehouses in line with FHI 360 protocols. He/she will work closely with the logistics team to ensure good dispensing and good distribution protocols of pharmaceuticals are being followed. He/she will travel to health facilities to conduct supportive supervision, to assess the need of facilities and to collect data related with pharmaceuticals availability and consumption. Works closely with the RHB pharmacy professionals to ensure that consumption is being tracked and for the improvement of pharmaceuticals supply chain management in health facilities.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage pharmaceutical warehouse.
• Maintain good condition of medical warehouse like temperature control, organization of pharmacy layout, hygiene.
• Receive pharmaceuticals, store them according to guidelines and issue to health facilities.
• Guarantee the proper management of the cold chain throughout the cycle.
• Ensure the correct handling of expired and/or damaged pharmaceutical products.
• Maintains a good record of receiving, storing and dispatching of medical items at the warehouses in line with FHI 360 protocols (Keep both paper and computer records).
• Keep records of serious untoward incidents e.g. drug errors, poor quality, expired drugs as requested by line manager.
• Ensure appropriate preparation and distribution of medical supplies requests to health facilities according to projects’ needs; also check the rationality of those requests.
• Maintain records for drug consumption and stocks.
• Provide regular update on inventory of medical products for health and nutrition team.
• Develops stock level alerts based on the average monthly consumption and health facility data and discuss with line manager to avoid any stock outs and over stock.
• Update all pharmacy files timely and prepare a monthly report of medical supplies management and share it with line manager.
• Travel to health facilities to conduct supportive supervision, to assess the pharmaceutical and training need of health facilities and to collect data related with pharmaceuticals availability and consumption. Expected to participate in data collection towards indicators.
• Liaises with Logistics department regarding drugs and medical supplies orders, buffer stocks and distribution to the field sites / clinics in a timely manner.
• Follows established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives, continuous quality improvement objectives, and safety, environmental standards.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of all FHI 360 resources to keep costs low and ensure safety in the workplace.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned, by Health and nutrition team or logistics team if these activities do not interfere with routine work tasks.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the line manager.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Proficiency with database management software and on-line search tools required.
• Has sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas.
• Articulate, professional, and able to communicate in a clear, positive manner with clients and staff.
• Excellent oral and written communic