Pharmacist

BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION-MALAWI

VACANCIES

Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation – Malawi (BCMCF-M) is a not-for-profit organization working in partnership with the Malawi Government in the health sector. Through a public-private partnership between the Government of Malawi, Abbott Fund and Baylor Foundation-Malawi, the first dedicated stand-alone pediatric HIV/AIDS care and treatment clinic in Malawi, popularly known as the Centre of Excellence (COE) was established. Our Mission is to provide high-quality, high-impact, highly ethical pediatric and family-centered health care, health professional training and clinical research, focused on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, malnutrition Maternal Health (MCH) and Pediatric Hematology Oncology (PHO) as well as other conditions impacting the health and well-being of children and families worldwide.

BCMCF-M is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of:

Position: Pharmacist

Contract Duration: 1 year (possibly renewable)

Location: Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at the Kamuzu Central Hospital Children’s Cancer Centre

Reports to: Medical Director

Position description and responsibilities

To promote excellence in pharmaceutical care through management of the medication preparation, dispensing and distribution process, identifying and preventing dispensing errors, and resolving any distribution related issues. Additionally performs all duties of a registered pharmacist and all responsibilities will be performed in a manner developmentally appropriate for pediatric patients.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following 

 Responsibility A: Ensures medications and patient care meet the highest standards.

• Ensures the appropriateness of all medication doses in reference to the patient’s diagnosis, weight/body surface area, allergies, and drug interactions.
• Maintains a drug information system.
• Accurately enters and/or verifies medication orders in the drug information system, evidenced by lack of medication incidents.
• Ensures aseptic technique and infection control in the preparation of sterile products. Maintains requisite recertification as per local licensure requirements and continuing education.
• Monitors consumption rates of drugs and medical supplies and facilitates their replenishment in a timely manner and in liaison with the relevant procurement personnel to ensure medication orders are processed and doses are delivered within established guidelines.
• Ensures proper storage, recording, and accountability of drugs and medical supplies and that every item has an up to date stock card and conducts regular stocktaking.
• Facilitates the proper disposal of damaged and expired products.
• Assists in selecting drugs and medical supplies to be used by the PHO program.
• Dispenses prescription and non-prescription drugs and medical supplies to both in-patients and out-patients as prescribed by physicians
• Participates in pill cutting.
• Ensures that there is adequate security of drugs and medical supplies at all times.
• Observes the country’s laws and regulations with regards to ensuring the availability of lockable boxes and registers.
• Prepares and submits targeted reports as required by the PHO program and local authorities
• Coordinates quality improvement activities to contribute to improved patient outcomes.
• Initiates and processes medication incident and adverse drug reaction reports.

Responsibility B: Communicates With Others

• Checks and responds as appropriate to all available means of communication including e-mail, mailbox, and voice mail.
• Participates in hand-off communication with other pharmacy and healthcare staff, including verbal and written communication, as appropriate.
• Keeps immediate supervisor informed of issues.
• Answers telephone and limits personal calls so as to not interfere with patient care or operations
• Demonstrates positive and effective interpersonal skills when dealing with patients/families, visitors, peers, and other healthcare team members.
• Documents and communicates appropriate information to prescribers and other healthcare providers, including consultation on the selection of medications, patient care plan that incorporates recommendations to address identified medication and other health-related problems, services provided, updates on the patient’s progress, and recommended follow-up.

Responsibility C: Engages in shift management.

• Ensures work environment is clean, neat, well ventilated, well lit, and organized.
• Ensures that a suitable temperature is maintained for drugs and medical supplies (i.e. availability and functional relevant facilities like air conditioners, sinks, bins, shelves, refrigerators, etc.).
• Ensures the smooth running of the pharmacy and acts as a role model for technicians and other pharmacists as evidenced by lack of complaints, medication incident reports, and peer review.
• Ensures completion of any PHO-requested checklists or documents
• Works to maintain adequate stock of medications and supplies per par levels or patients’ needs.
• Re-establishes priorities based on workload and patients’ needs as observed by manager and peer review.
• Ensures that equipment used in preparation or administration of pharmaceuticals is maintained and functions properly.

Responsibility D: Performs Other Essential Functions

• Maintains investigational drug records according to departmental policy.
• Maintains patient confidentiality as documented by a lack of complaints and peer review.
• Performs additional duties as assigned within specified deadlines.
• Completes mandatory health, safety, and training/in-service requirements.
• Demonstrates initiative when opportunities are presented as evidenced by successful completion of projects and recommendations.
• Participates in the Center meeting/training/activities as assigned.
• Upholds appropriate and useful policies and procedures affecting areas of responsibility.
• Participates in the recruitment and successful hiring and training of pharmacy staff, completing the appropriate tasks to help hire and train employees as needed.
• Manages the staff first aid kit.

Responsibility E: Participates in the education of staff, patients, caregivers, and the community.

• Precepts pharmacy students, residents, and other trainees, as appropriate.
• Presents educational information to pharmacy staff or others, as appropriate.
• Attends in-house educational meetings.
• Plans for professional self-development.
• Participates, as appropriate with the nursing and medical staff, in the education of patients, families, and/or caregivers on such topics as routine medication taking, medication adherence, and proper drug use. Documents on education of patient/family or caregivers per procedure.
• Provides correct and timely drug information to medical, nursing, and pharmacy staff as needed.
• Provides appropriate counseling for patients on their prescriptions at the time of pick up or ensures that it was completed and documented by the clinic or ward pharmacist.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree
• Minimum of 3 years work experience.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Strong communication skills both verbal and written

Visit the following link to apply  https://apply.workable.com/tingathe/?not_found=true#jobs

Closing date for receiving applications is 25^th June 2025. Only shortlisted applicants will be acknowledged.