PHARMACIST ASSISTANT (POST BASIC) GRADE 1 TO 3 Overberg District

This position is for a Pharmacist Assistant (Post Basic) at Grade 1, 2, or 3, based at Caledon Hospital in the Theewaterskloof Sub-district of the Overberg District. Working within the Western Cape Department of Health’s pharmaceutical service team, the successful candidate will support the Pharmacy Manager and fellow health professionals in delivering safe, efficient and patient-centred medicine care. The role is particularly suited to an individual who can work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, ensuring compliance with legal and professional standards while maintaining a high level of service across the facility and surrounding sub-district.

To qualify, applicants must hold an appropriate qualification that allows registration with the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) as a Pharmacist Assistant (Post Basic) or Pharmacist Assistant (Post Basic) (Institutional), and must be registered with the SAPC in the relevant category. Experience requirements depend on the grade applied for: Grade 1 requires no post-registration experience, Grade 2 requires a minimum of five years, and Grade 3 requires at least thirteen years of relevant experience after registration. A valid driver’s licence and willingness to work overtime are inherent requirements. Candidates should be computer literate in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and have demonstrated experience with JAC/WellSky dispensing systems. Knowledge of Good Pharmacy Practice, institutional pharmacy procedures, medicine supply management principles including cold chain, as well as relevant legislation such as the Medicines Act, Pharmacy Act, and Public Finance Management Act, is essential. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, patient orientation, time management, problem-solving abilities, accuracy under pressure, and accountability for medicine-related queries are also key.

Duties include assisting with the effective control and provision of pharmaceutical products, accurate compounding or manufacturing of non-sterile medicines, and controlling and distributing pharmaceutical stock to various areas within the facility. The incumbent will support the Pharmacy Manager with data capturing, record keeping, statistics gathering, providing information, and handling day-to-day pharmacy queries. They will also prepare prescriptions and assist in dispensing medication for individual patients under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, as required by the Pharmacy Act. The role may involve relieving duties within the sub-district and, as with all advertised posts in this ecosystem, the appointee should be prepared to render clinical services across institutions in the broader service platform to sustain health service delivery.

Applicants who do not yet have the stipulated registration may apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration and proof of payment of the prescribed fees to the SAPC on or before the day of the interview; this concession applies only to health professionals applying for first-time registration in a specific category. No payment of any kind is required for this post. Enquiries may be directed to the contact person named in the advertisement. This opportunity is a permanent or long-term appointment within the provincial health system, offering a structured career path through the published grading.