PHARMACIST GRADE 1 TO 3 (PRODUCTION)

This vacancy is for a Pharmacist Grade 1 to 3 with a production focus, based at New Somerset Hospital and falling under the Metro Health Services directorate of the Western Cape Department of Health. The post offers a professional pharmacist the opportunity to work within a hospital pharmacy environment, where the incumbent will support pharmaceutical services through both clinical and operational functions. As a production pharmacist, the role contributes to the safe and effective supply of medicines within the facility and surrounding sub-structure, with an emphasis on quality assurance, medicines management, and rational prescribing practices.

Applicants must hold a basic pharmacy qualification accredited by the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) and must be registered with the SAPC as a Pharmacist. Appointments may be made at Grade 1, 2, or 3 depending on experience. For South African qualified pharmacists, Grade 1 requires no experience after registration, Grade 2 requires a minimum of five years appropriate experience, and Grade 3 requires thirteen years of relevant experience. Candidates who qualified at a recognised foreign health professional council and are not required to perform community service in South Africa must have one additional year of relevant experience at each grade level. The successful candidate must be willing to perform on-call duties and work overtime, including after hours, weekends, and public holidays, and must hold a valid driver's licence, as travel to supported facilities is required.

The ideal candidate will have a thorough knowledge of National and Provincial Health Policies, pharmaceutical legislation, and the Pharmacy Act, as well as a sound understanding of hospital-level healthcare environments, antimicrobial stewardship, and rational medicine use. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential, along with the ability to work accurately under pressure, maintain professionalism, and train and supervise staff. Computer literacy is also required.

Key duties include providing relief duties to ensure quality pharmaceutical care, monitoring work procedures and provincial code list compliance, and delivering clinical services. The pharmacist will conduct ward audits in areas where medicines are stored, assist with procurement, storage, control and distribution of pharmaceuticals, and help manage pharmaceutical expenditure by analysing trends and implementing cost-containment strategies. The role also involves collating and interpreting pharmaceutical data, representing pharmacy services at meetings, and conducting outreach visits to facilities within the sub-structure to provide advice, support, inspections and assessments of medicine management practices. In addition, the incumbent will support human resource monitoring and supervise pharmacist assistants to ensure productivity and people development.

This is a graded public service post, with remuneration and benefits aligned to the applicable occupational specific dispensation. The vacancy is advertised through the relevant circular, and candidates are advised that no payment of any kind is required when applying for this post. Application instructions and enquiry contact details are provided in the full advertisement, and all applications must be submitted through the designated online portal.