Director - Pharmacy Services

Pharmacy Services Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan, a Joint Commission International Accredited, Tertiary Care University Hospital, is seeking Director of Pharmacy Services to take its services to the next level of excellence. 

The services are centered at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road Campus, a 600+ bedded, Joint Commission International Accredited (JCIA) facility offering; fifteen  Inpatient and Outpatient Satellites Pharmacies, Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE), Centralized IVPB, Cytotoxic Admixture Programme, TPN, Unit Dose Drug Distribution, Point of Care Pharmacotherapy Rounds, Drug and Poison Information  Center (DPIC), Clinical Pharmacists Programme, one year  duration post  Pharm. D academic program to train hospital pharmacists. Outreach Program comprises of four secondary hospitals with a cumulative total of 224 beds and chain of off-site professional ambulatory care pharmacies including immunization services. Currently Pharmacy staffing consists of 140 graduate pharmacists and 60 non pharmacists.

Overview of the Position

The incumbent will be responsible for efficient operations of the Pharmacy Services; a large multisite integrated service with a state of the art medication management system and a strong emphasis on pharmaceutical care and clinical pharmacy practices.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan University Hospital Pakistan, Director, Pharmacy Services will be expected to formulate a clear strategic direction for the Pharmacy to ensure vision, mission and values are upheld and it is consistent with Hospital’s organizational plans. Actively participate in all patient care initiatives and serve as a representative of the hospital pharmacy at national and international forums. S/he is expected to be a positive change agent with a passion for building and designing innovative programs in medication management systems to help pharmacy become more proximal to patient care. 

The incumbent helps develop staff competencies in pharmacy practice and pharmacy specialties through the assistance/partnership of overseas health care organizations, academic institutions and international professional organizations. The incumbent shall direct administrative operations of the department to ensure high quality, and appropriate patient care that is consistent with established professional, regulatory, ISO and Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards.

• Play a leading role in the strategic planning and operational issues within the pharmacy services. Must have the ability to supervise and work with a group of high caliber core staff responsible for smooth functioning of the division to meet its objectives;
• Provide support to ensure that expectations of internal and external customers i.e. patients, are met while ensuring compliance with regulatory and JCIA requirements;
• Provides leadership and direction to the staff ensuring that operational, professional, clinical and technical activities are performed consistently in cohort with organization vision, division mission, its goals and objectives;
• Provide project management and overall facilitation for prioritizing and advocating patient safety initiatives related to the design and implementation of systems and processes that support medication safety. Determine and design the analytical framework for project design to include evaluation mechanisms for project outcomes and also provide routine updates to project sponsors and stakeholders;
• Develop & implement an overall long term vision and strategy for pharmacy services and medication management on campus and outreach programs;
• Provides a leadership role in formulating policy and instituting models that promote medication safety in all aspects of the medication management process;
• Monitor compliance with proper medication control, safety, and security standards in pharmacy and patient care areas. Facilitate changes needed to meet regulatory, accrediting, licensing, and regulatory agency standards and laws;
• Plan and implement procedures in hospital pharmacy as per the hospital policies and legal requirements. 
• Ensure the integration of the off-site pharmacy services with the overall pharmacy management;
• Integrate pharmacy services with other departments and the medical staff to establish a multidisciplinary approach to provide safe patient care;
• Develop departmental structure with clearly defined lines of authority and job responsibilities that enable staff to work together toward achieving common objectives;
• Develop departmental goals, strategies & key indicators; assure compliance of targets, thereby assuring accountability and continuous improvement in core processes;
• Assure compliance with all regulatory requirements and others for pharmacy operations e.g. JCIA and ISO standards etc.
• Prepare departmental budget, manage and monitor financial and human resources accordingly.
• Assure pharmacy informatics systems are contemporary, functional, and appropriately integrated into other systems within the Organization.
• Establish and maintain a contemporary, exemplary pharmacy service to serve as a suitable environment for training of physicians/nurses and allied health.
• Develop innovative methods of delivering pharmaceutical care in cooperation with the Nursing and Clinical Faculty
• Candidate should possess Doctorate/Bachelors of Pharmacy, preference will be given to Master degree holder preferably in clinical pharmacy with in depth background in clinical pharmacy practice, systems design and analysis. A general or specialized pharmacy residency or Board certified pharmacists.  
• Current licensure to practice Pharmacy with registration as a Pharmacist.
• Minimum 8 to 10 years’ experience as Director Pharmacy Services with exposures to financial operations and leadership positions. Must possess experience in the development of programs focused on achieving positive outcomes in pharmacy services.
• Extensive experience in outcome metrics, investigational drug studies, protocols, and understanding the effectiveness of good procedures and policies is absolutely essential. 
• Demonstrate understanding of information systems, including MS Office, enterprise IT systems, and Pharmacy computer and IT systems desirable.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with comprehensive knowledge of healthcare market with excellent business acumen and presentation skills.