ROVING PHARMACIST – uThukela District

Company information

Company

HST Careers

Division

HSS

Health Systems Trust is an innovative non-profit organisation working to strengthen ongoing development of comprehensive health systems in southern Africa

Province

KwaZulu-Natal

District

Uthukela District Municipality

Job Specification Information

Title

ROVING PHARMACIST – uThukela District

Description

The Health Systems Trust (HST) wishes to appoint a Pharmacist for the South Africa Sustainable Response to HIV and AIDS (SA SURE) PRO Project to supervise Post-Basic Pharmacist Assistants (PBPAs) and render pharmaceutical support in health facilities in the uThukela District of KwaZulu-Natal Province. Based in uThukela, the incumbent will be responsible for the maintenance and support of the Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) Programme as well as medicine supply management systems at Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities and pick-up points throughout the district, and will liaise with relevant stakeholders within the Department of Health (DoH) and multi-disciplinary partner teams in support of the tuberculosis (TB) and HIV programme. This is a fixed-term contract position, renewable subject to continuation of funding.

Key Responsibilities

1. CCMDD (Dablapmeds) programme support • Support and promote the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme. • Monitor CCMDD dashboards and identify gaps in programme implementation. • Conduct facility and external pick-up point (PuP) M&E assessments and initiate sustainable interventions. • Provide technical support in identifying and recruiting new external PuPs to improve access. • Monitor compliance with Differentiated Care Model (DCM) processes. • Provide technical and operational support for Peleboxes and the HST CCMDD Van project, ensuring optimal utilisation, system functionality, and troubleshooting when issues arise. 2. Capacity-building and training • Train facility staff on DoH programmes. • Capacitate PBPAs routinely. • Support health facilities through mentorship and skills development initiatives. • Ensure synergy and integration across DoH and HST programmes. 3. Medicine supply management • Ensure ethical stock control and full support during facility stock-taking and stock-out responses. • Implement plans to prevent medicine wastage and expiry. • Monitor and support the use of Stock Visibility Solution (SVS) and RX Solution for accurate reporting. • Ensure ongoing monitoring of pharmacy records and alignment with ordering practices. • Provide technical support to the District Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee (PTC). • Ensure that medicine supply management systems are consistently maintained across all supported facilities. 4. Monitoring, evaluation and compliance • Ensure the maintenance and functionality of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. • Conduct operational research audits to identify and address challenges. • Ensure compliance with Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) standards and clinical/pharmacy regulations. • Support that Pharmacy Room audits are conducted and that continuous adherence to audit standards is maintained. 5. Administrative and communications responsibilities • Supervise PBPAs and drivers • Maintain effective communication with supported clinics and district-level structures. • Perform administrative, housekeeping, and other related functions as required to support programme goals. • Submit reports as required. • Support all HST initiatives and projects, ensuring integration with broader organisational objectives.

Key Attributes

• Pharmaceutical supply chain knowledge: Strong understanding of the DoH medicine ordering systems, with proven expertise in pharmaceutical supply chain management, stock control, and GPP standards. • Systems proficiency: Demonstrated experience with health information systems including RX Solution, SSVS and SyNCH, with the ability to analyse and interpret data to guide decision-making. • Programme knowledge: Knowledge of the CCMDD) programme and Differentiated Models of Care. • M&E skills: Competency in maintaining and using M&E systems, dashboards, and tools to identify performance gaps and implement corrective interventions. • Leadership and supervisory skills: Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, supervise PBPAs, and provide mentorship and technical guidance to facility and PuP staff. • Training and facilitation: Strong presentation and facilitation skills for conducting capacity-building sessions and in-service trainings at facilities and at district level. • Communication and interpersonal skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, district teams, and community partners. Fluency in English is essential. • Analytical and problem-solving abilities: Strong analytical thinking, initiative, and troubleshooting skills, particularly in the context of resolving operational and technical challenges at facilities and PuPs. • Digital literacy: Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, with proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis, tracking and reporting. • Attention to detail: A high level of accuracy, organisation and thoroughness in documentation, pharmacy audits, and compliance checks. • Adaptability and resilience: Willingness to travel frequently within the district and to adapt to varied work environments and community contexts. • Information and records management: Proficiency in managing programme documentation, reports, pharmacy records, and M&E tools.

Education Required

Degree

Qualification Required

Qualifications • A BPharm degree • Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements fulfilled for the previous year • Active registration with the South African Pharmacy Council • A valid South African Code 8/10 driver’s licence.

Experience Required

• A minimum of two years’ working experience post Community Service • Knowledge of the CCMDD/Dablapmeds programme and the Synchronised National Communication in Health (SyNCH) system • Experience in treatment regimens and adherence issues related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), HIV/AIDS, TB and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Remuneration

A salary package commensurate with the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications and in line with HST’s Job Grading System will be offered.

Other Job Details

• Interested applicants must complete their application online at: https://careers.hst.org.za/ • Applicants are to ensure that their online applications are completed in full, and that comprehensive CVs are uploaded with the online application in order to be considered. • Your CV must be saved with a filename reflecting your name and surname. • No applications sent via e-mail will be considered for the job, as all applicants must submit their applications online at the provided link. Please note: • All personal information collected is processed lawfully in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). • Preference will be given to applicants residing in KwaZulu-Natal. • The incumbent must reside in or relocate (at their own cost) to uThukela before the start-date of the job. • Shortlisted candidates will be requested to submit certified copies of all qualifications and identity documents. • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. • Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates. • All shortlisted candidates will be subjected to reference and credential checks. • If you have not been contacted within 30 days of the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful. • HST reserves the right to not fill this position. CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 26 June 2025 at 16h30 Health Systems Trust subscribes to diversity and inclusivity, which is informed by the Company’s Employment Equity Plan. Based on this, African males and people with disabilities who meet the job specifications (including but not limited to the required skills, knowledge and education), are encouraged to apply.