Job Description

Right to Care is currently seeking a Pharmacist for Vigilance Liaison role. The professional will collaborate with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to carry out the specified responsibilities:Improve provincial coordination of vaccine and therapeutics safety reporting and case management.Formalise linkages with PDOH to facilitate SAHPRA decentralized pharmacovigilance support activities:

• Engage with the PDOH to ensure harmonisation and coordination of PV activities.
• Ensure formal linkages to support the reporting and accountabilities

Implementing procedures and strengthen coordination with provincial and district level DOH staff to improve AEFI reporting and case management activities

• Develop/update reporting procedures for both AEFIs and therapeutics ADRs and co-ordinate finalisation.
• Socialise reporting procedures within the province for proper implementation
• Monitor compliance with the new processes and continue with socialisation

Strengthen provincial safety committees and linkages to SAHPRAWork with the PDOH counterparts to implement/strengthen provincial safety committees:

• Engage with the principles (HOPS, PV Leads, HOD) regarding the need for the development of safety committee.
• Establish/strengthen Pharmaceutical & Therapeutics Committees at institutional, district and provincial levels.
• Establish the formation of the Provincial Immunisation Safety Expert Committee.

Review and streamline procedures for safety committees and strengthen capacity for preliminary safety assessments for vaccines and therapeutics:

• Develop 2024 PISEC meeting schedule and communicate to relevant structures.
• Develop/review and finalise meeting conduct procedures e.g., Terms of refence, etc.
• Arrange training for PISEC members.

Support the work of the PISEC:

• Track all AEFI investigations and report on the progress.
• Coordinate and participate in AEFI/AE case investigations.
• Coordinate case allocation for assessment by PISEC members.
• Coordinate all PISEC meetings.
• Communicate all PISEC pre-liminary findings to NISEC for further assessment.
• Ensure case closure and provision of feedback to the vaccinees and family members.

Strengthen pharmacovigilance knowledge for healthcare professionals within the province.

• Develop 2024 training plan.
• Coordinate and implement trainings for healthcare professionals and managers in both private and private sectors as per the plan.
• Coordinate and train all the train-the-trainers planned for the province.

Minimum Qualification and Experience

• Matric certificate
• Appropriate 4-year Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree and registration as a Pharmacist with South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) at NQF level 8 as recognised by SAQA.
• Proficient in MS Office
• A valid Drivers License.
• Knowledge of all relevant legislation, protocols, regulations and guidelines pertaining to the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 as amended.
• Experience in using relevant platforms (VigiBase, VigiFlow, Vigilance Hub, etc)
• Understanding of the Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)/ Adverse Drug Event (ADE) reporting processes, training capabilities and case investigations

Desirable Qualification and Experience

• A postgraduate qualification in relevant Pharmacy field

Closing date: 26 March 2024

Right To Care