Drug Dispenser
Lindii Peace Foundation (LPF)
full-time
Contract Duration: 11 months
ABOUT THE ROLE
Lindii Peace Foundation (LPF) is seeking a qualified, competent and detail-oriented Drug Dispenser to support pharmaceutical services and ensure the safe, accurate and timely dispensing of medicines within its health programme.
The Drug Dispenser will be responsible for receiving prescriptions, preparing and dispensing medicines under authorized supervision, providing appropriate instructions to patients on medication use, maintaining pharmaceutical records, monitoring stock levels and supporting the proper storage and handling of medicines and medical consumables. The post holder will work closely with medical doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and other healthcare personnel to promote rational medicine use, patient safety and continuity of care.
The successful candidate will ensure that medicines are dispensed in accordance with authorized prescriptions, approved treatment protocols, established pharmaceutical procedures and applicable regulatory requirements. The role also involves monitoring medicine expiry dates, preventing stock-outs, documenting dispensing activities and identifying medication-related concerns for referral to the appropriate healthcare professional.
This position requires accuracy, integrity, good organizational skills and a strong commitment to patient confidentiality, medicine safety and quality healthcare delivery in a humanitarian setting.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Dispensing of Medicines and Patient Support
Receive and review prescriptions and medication orders for completeness, legibility and authorization before dispensing.
Dispense prescribed medicines accurately in accordance with authorized prescriptions, approved treatment protocols and established procedures.
Ensure that the correct medicine, strength, dosage form, quantity and instructions are provided to the appropriate patient.
Verify medicine labels and dispensing information before issuing medicines to patients.
Refer unclear, incomplete, potentially inappropriate or conflicting prescriptions to the supervising pharmacist or authorized prescriber for clarification before dispensing.
Provide patients and caregivers with clear instructions on dosage, frequency, duration, route of administration, storage and other relevant medication-use requirements within the scope of training and authorization.
Explain basic precautions associated with prescribed medicines and encourage patients to follow the prescribed treatment regimen.
Provide appropriate information on missed doses, medicine storage and safe handling in accordance with approved guidance and supervisory instructions.
Maintain a respectful and professional attitude when interacting with patients and caregivers, ensuring that their questions are addressed appropriately.
Refer patients who report suspected adverse drug reactions, medication errors, worsening symptoms or other medicine-related concerns to the appropriate healthcare professional.
Ensure that medicines are not dispensed without appropriate authorization or in circumstances that violate applicable professional and regulatory requirements.
Support adherence to treatment by providing understandable medication instructions and identifying patients who may require additional counselling from a qualified healthcare professional.
Prescription Management and Dispensing Documentation
Maintain accurate and up-to-date dispensing registers, prescription records and other required pharmaceutical documentation.
Record medicines dispensed, quantities issued, dates of dispensing and other information required by approved procedures.
Ensure that prescriptions are appropriately filed, stored and retrievable for authorized review.
Document partial dispensing, unavailable medicines, substitutions authorized by the appropriate professional and other relevant dispensing exceptions.
Report discrepancies between prescriptions, dispensing records and physical stock balances to the supervising pharmacist or designated supervisor.
Maintain appropriate records of medicines returned, damaged, expired or otherwise unsuitable for dispensing.
Protect patient information and ensure that prescription and dispensing records are accessible only to authorized personnel.
Support the preparation of routine dispensing reports, medicine consumption summaries and other pharmaceutical service statistics.
Ensure that records are complete, legible and available for authorized monitoring visits, clinical reviews and audits.
Medicine Storage and Inventory Management
Receive medicines and medical consumables and verify quantities, product descriptions, batch numbers, expiry dates and physical condition against delivery documentation.
Ensure that medicines are stored under the temperature, humidity, light and security conditions specified by the manufacturer and applicable procedures.
Arrange medicines systematically to support efficient identification, retrieval and stock monitoring.
Apply First-Expiry, First-Out (FEFO) principles to ensure that medicines with earlier expiry dates are issued first, where appropriate.
Monitor stock levels regularly and maintain accurate stock cards, bin cards, inventory registers or approved electronic records.
Track medicine consumption patterns and identify items requiring replenishment before stock-outs occur.
Prepare timely requisitions for medicines and pharmaceutical consumables based on stock balances, consumption trends and programme needs.
Conduct routine physical stock counts and reconcile actual quantities against documented balances.
Identify and report stock discrepancies, unexplained losses, damaged packaging, suspected diversion and other inventory concerns promptly.
Separate expired, damaged, recalled, contaminated or otherwise unsuitable medicines from usable stock and clearly identify them to prevent accidental dispensing.
Ensure that quarantined or expired medicines are managed and disposed of through approved procedures.
Monitor temperature-sensitive medicines and maintain temperature records where required.
Support the documentation of medicines received, issued, transferred, returned and disposed of in accordance with established procedures.
Use medicines and medical supplies responsibly to minimize wastage and ensure the availability of essential treatments.
Pharmaceutical Quality and Medicine Safety
Ensure that all medicines dispensed are obtained through approved supply channels and meet applicable quality requirements.
Check medicine names, strengths, dosage forms, packaging integrity, batch numbers and expiry dates before dispensing.
Identify and report suspected counterfeit, falsified, substandard or otherwise questionable medical products through established reporting channels.
Ensure that medicines are not issued when their quality, identity, storage history or suitability for use is in doubt.
Follow approved procedures for handling medicine recalls, product alerts and other pharmaceutical safety notices.
Support the implementation of measures to prevent medication errors, dispensing mistakes and inappropriate medicine use.
Report dispensing errors, near misses, adverse drug reaction concerns and other medication-related incidents promptly to the appropriate supervisor.
Participate in medication safety reviews, stock reconciliation exercises and quality improvement activities when required.
Ensure that medicine substitutions are made only when authorized by the appropriate qualified professional and permitted under applicable procedures.
Maintain professional boundaries and refer clinical decisions beyond the Drug Dispenser\'s competence to the supervising pharmacist or authorized prescriber.
Rational Medicine Use and Patient Counselling
Promote the safe and appropriate use of medicines by providing accurate instructions within the scope of training and authorization.
Reinforce prescribed treatment instructions and encourage patients to complete their treatment as directed by the authorized prescriber.
Explain medicine administration schedules and storage requirements in clear, accessible language.
Provide basic information on common precautions and the importance of seeking professional advice when unexpected reactions occur.
Encourage patients to seek clarification when they do not understand their medication instructions.
Identify and report recurring patient difficulties with medicine access, adherence or understanding to the appropriate healthcare professional.
Support patient education activities on medicine safety, treatment adherence and the responsible use of medicines.
Avoid providing diagnoses, independently prescribing medicines, changing prescribed dosages or making clinical decisions outside the authorized scope of practice.
Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality during all dispensing and counselling activities.
Stock Control, Replenishment and Supply Coordination
Monitor the availability of essential medicines and medical consumables required for routine health service delivery.
Maintain minimum and maximum stock levels in accordance with approved inventory procedures and programme requirements.
Identify fast-moving, slow-moving, high-consumption and critical medicines to support effective stock planning.
Notify the supervising pharmacist or designated supervisor promptly of low stock, stock-outs and anticipated supply interruptions.
Support the preparation of medicine orders and replenishment requests based on verified consumption and available stock.
Check incoming supplies for completeness, quality, correct labelling, batch information and acceptable shelf life.
Ensure that discrepancies between purchase orders, delivery notes and actual supplies received are documented and reported.
Coordinate with authorized procurement, logistics and warehouse personnel regarding medicine deliveries, storage requirements and stock transfers.
Maintain records of inter-facility medicine transfers and ensure that all movements are properly authorized and documented.
Support periodic stock reconciliation and provide accurate information for pharmaceutical consumption and forecasting reports.
Ensure that medicines and consumables are used exclusively for authorized organizational and patient-care purposes.
Infection Prevention, Hygiene and Safe Disposal
Comply with established infection prevention and control procedures during medicine handling and dispensing activities.
Maintain clean, organized and hygienic dispensing areas, shelves and work surfaces.
Use appropriate personal protective equipment when required for assigned duties.
Apply safe handling procedures for medicines, pharmaceutical waste and potentially hazardous materials.
Ensure that damaged, expired and unusable medicines are segregated, secured and documented pending approved disposal.
Prevent contamination, deterioration and unauthorized access to medicines through appropriate storage and handling practices.
Report spills, damaged containers, suspected contamination and other safety incidents promptly.
Support the safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste in accordance with organizational procedures and applicable environmental and public health requirements.
Participate in relevant infection prevention, medicine safety and waste management training.
Collaboration and Health Programme Support
Work collaboratively with medical doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and other healthcare personnel to support effective patient care.
Respond promptly to authorized medication requests and communicate medicine availability, shortages and dispensing concerns to the relevant personnel.
Refer clinical questions, prescription discrepancies and medication-related complications to the supervising pharmacist or authorized prescriber.
Support the coordination of medicine availability with clinical teams to minimize interruptions to patient treatment.
Participate in pharmaceutical stock reviews, health programme meetings and service improvement activities when required.
Support the collection and compilation of pharmaceutical service data for programme monitoring and reporting.
Assist with medicine distribution during approved outreach activities and field-based health services when assigned and appropriately supervised.
Ensure that medicines distributed during outreach activities are properly documented, securely handled and issued only to authorized recipients.
Maintain professional working relationships and communicate respectfully with colleagues, patients and community members.
Compliance, Accountability and Professional Development
Comply with LPF policies, standard operating procedures, pharmaceutical guidelines and applicable laws and regulations governing medicine handling and dispensing.
Work within the limits of training, competence, authorization and applicable professional requirements.
Maintain accurate records and demonstrate accountability for medicines and supplies under assigned responsibility.
Protect organizational assets and report suspected fraud, diversion, theft, misuse or unauthorized distribution of medicines.
Participate in supportive supervision, relevant training and continuing professional development activities.
Identify gaps in dispensing procedures, inventory systems and medicine storage practices and recommend appropriate improvements.
Report ethical concerns, confidentiality breaches, medication errors and unsafe practices through established organizational channels.
Perform other medicine dispensing and pharmaceutical support duties assigned by the supervisor, consistent with the position\'s scope of responsibility and applicable regulations.
KEY DELIVERABLES
The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the following:
Accurate and timely dispensing of prescribed medicines in accordance with approved procedures.
Complete and up-to-date dispensing registers and prescription records.
Properly labelled medicines issued with appropriate medication-use instructions.
Accurate stock cards, inventory registers and medicine consumption records.
Timely replenishment requests and proactive monitoring of essential medicine availability.
Regular stock counts and documented reconciliation of physical and recorded balances.
Proper monitoring of medicine batch numbers, expiry dates and storage conditions.
Documented segregation and reporting of expired, damaged, recalled or questionable medicines.
Timely reporting of dispensing errors, medication incidents and suspected adverse drug reactions.
Compliance with medicine safety, infection prevention and pharmaceutical waste management procedures.
Regular dispensing activity and pharmaceutical stock reports.
Secure storage of medicines and confidential patient records.
Minimum Qualifications
National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND) or equivalent recognized qualification in Pharmacy Technician studies, Pharmaceutical Technology or another relevant pharmaceutical discipline, consistent with the duties and applicable regulatory requirements.
Current registration or licence with the relevant Nigerian regulatory body, where required for the candidate\'s qualification and authorized scope of practice.
Minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in medicine dispensing, pharmaceutical stock management or a healthcare facility.
Demonstrated ability to receive and process prescriptions, dispense medicines accurately and maintain appropriate dispensing records.
Knowledge of medicine storage requirements, expiry-date monitoring, stock rotation and inventory management.
Understanding of medication safety, patient confidentiality and the importance of referring clinical concerns to qualified healthcare professionals.
Basic computer skills and the ability to maintain accurate records and prepare routine reports.
Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain medication instructions clearly and respectfully.
Strong attention to detail, integrity, accountability and organizational skills.
Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary healthcare teams in a demanding service-delivery environment.
Desirable Experience
Experience working in a hospital, primary healthcare facility, pharmacy or humanitarian health programme.
Experience dispensing essential medicines in accordance with approved treatment protocols.
Familiarity with essential medicines lists, standard treatment guidelines and medicine inventory systems.
Experience monitoring medicine expiry dates, batch numbers, storage conditions and stock movements.
Experience working with NGOs, INGOs or donor-funded health programmes.
Experience supporting medicine distribution in resource-constrained or emergency-response settings.
Familiarity with pharmaceutical reporting tools and electronic stock management systems.
CORE COMPETENCIES
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
Dispensing accuracy: Ability to dispense the correct medicine, strength, quantity and dosage instructions against an authorized prescription.
Attention to detail: Ability to identify discrepancies in prescriptions, labels, stock records and medicine packaging.
Medicine safety: Commitment to safe medicine handling, appropriate storage and prevention of dispensing errors.
Inventory management: Ability to maintain accurate stock records, monitor expiry dates and anticipate replenishment needs.
Integrity and accountability: Commitment to responsible medicine management and transparent documentation.
Confidentiality: Ability to protect patient information and sensitive health records.
Communication: Ability to provide clear medication instructions and communicate effectively with patients and healthcare personnel.
Organization and time management: Ability to manage dispensing requests and inventory responsibilities efficiently.
Teamwork: Ability to collaborate with clinical and programme teams to support continuity of patient care.
Adaptability: Ability to work effectively in a demanding humanitarian healthcare environment.
The post holder is required to:
Adhere to LPF\'s policies, procedures, Code of Conduct and organizational values.
Demonstrate commitment to safeguarding, gender equality, diversity, inclusion and respect for human rights.
Maintain zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), harassment, fraud, corruption and abuse of position.
Report safeguarding, SEA, fraud or other serious misconduct concerns through established organizational reporting mechanisms.
Maintain professional conduct and protect patient confidentiality at all times.
Demonstrate sensitivity to diverse cultural contexts and the needs of affected populations.
Comply with applicable health, safety, infection prevention and security requirements.
Use organizational resources responsibly and protect medicines, medical supplies and other organizational property from loss, misuse or unauthorized distribution.