Medicine Registration Officer: Pharmacovigilance

Requirements: 

Matric certificate and appropriate four-year degree in Pharmacy at NQF Level 8 as recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and registration with a Professional Body (South African Pharmacy Council). A relevant Masters degree will be an added advantage. A valid driver’s license. 

Experience: 

• Grade 1 – A minimum of two (2) years of Pharmacovigilance experience post internship and Community Service. Regulatory experience will be an added advantage. 
• Grade 2 –A minimum of five (5) years of Pharmacovigilance experience post internship and Community Service. 

Competencies, Knowledge, and Skills:

Knowledge and application of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 101 of 1965, as amended, and its related regulations, with respect to the regulation of medicines in terms of quality, safety, and efficacy. Basic knowledge of the medicines regulatory framework, policies, and process. Knowledge and understanding of clinical pharmacology. Basic understanding of medicine registration and harmonisation.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)
• Critical thinking
• Ability to exercise good judgment and solve problems quickly and effectively
• Computer skills
• Solution-oriented
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to maintain high levels of confidentiality
• Interpersonal skills
• Change management
• Knowledge management 
• Service delivery innovation
• Problem-solving and analysis
• Client orientation and customer focus
• Proactive stakeholder management
• Situational adaptability
• Collaboration 

Duties: 

Operational Management: Responsible for the accurate and timeous assessment of safety documents received, and performance as per the defined processes. Preparing comprehensive reports for various purposes (e.g., regulatory submissions, advisory committees, internal communication). Preparing accurate, timely, and well-documented reports that meet regulatory requirements. Documenting decision-making processes and justifications. Writing clear, concise, and evidence-based reports. Producing scientific peer-reviewed evaluation reports. Provide technical and administrative support to committees. Engaging stakeholders relating to regulatory matters. Manage product review systems. Processing applications received for approval. 

Support the AEFI management: Conduct case management and causality assessments for AEFI cases for all registered vaccines. Establish integrated procedures and processes for monitoring, reporting, and assessment of vaccine-related safety concerns. Train healthcare professionals in the provinces on AEFI management, causality assessment, and AEFI reporting procedures and tools. Review, update, and implement updated procedures and processes for the management of registered vaccines. 

Support Pharmacovigilance (PVC) and National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee (NISEC): Support the PVC/NISEC both technically and administratively. Coordinate all PVC/NISEC meetings and minutes thereof. Allocate case files for clinical assessment to both pharmacovigilance technical officers and NISEC members. Update AEFI cases on the reports management system as per the NISEC causality assessment outcome. Prepare and provide monthly reports/statistics on AEFI cases. Ensure case closure and provision of feedback to the provinces. Prepare and communicate all regulatory decisions as per the meeting discussions. 

Coordinate and support provinces on vaccines and therapeutics safety reporting and case management: Support and strengthen linkages with provincial Departments of Health (DoH) to facilitate SAHPRA decentralised pharmacovigilance activities. Implement procedures and strengthen coordination with provincial and district-level DoH staff to improve AEFI and ADR reporting and case management activities. Develop/update reporting procedures for both AEFIs and therapeutics ADRs and coordinate finalisation. Strengthen provincial safety committees and linkages to SAHPRA. 

Training and outreach: Coordinate and implement training for healthcare professionals in both private and private sectors. Coordinate medicine safety awareness webinars and workshops. Work closely with provinces and stakeholders for planning and implementation of outreach programmes for both healthcare professionals and the public. Benefit-Risk Evaluation: Critically assess Risk Management Plans (RMP)/Periodic Benefit-Risk Evaluation Reports (PBRER)/Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSUR)/Summary of Benefit-Risk Evaluation reports/Safety signals as submitted by applicants or received from any other stakeholder. Write clear, concise, and evidence-based reports. Produce scientific peer-reviewed reports for discussion. Timeous preparation and submission of assessment reports to ensure compliance with targets and timelines. Prepare and publish safety-related communications timeously. 

ICSR Management: Processing and management of ADR/ADE reports received. Clinical assessment of serious adverse reaction reports. Coordinate and participate in causality assessment meetings of serious cases and cases of public interest. Conduct signal detection/assessment and necessary investigation. 

Financial Management: Collating, compiling, and submitting accurate reports promptly to satisfy statutory and business requirements, as well as being able to communicate key financial messages to stakeholders with clarity and consistency. Provide general advice on all related financial matters to all relevant colleagues involved, directly or indirectly, in the financial circuit. Monitors and maintains all required financial records for compliance with all agreed requirements. Collate financial data and reports for analysis and to facilitate decision-making. 

Governance, Compliance, and Risk: Achieve and maintain process quality. Adherence to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. Ensure adherence to all process quality assurance requirements. Assist with Performance Reporting within the predetermined timeline. Identify and record operational risks and consult with the Unit Manager. Mitigate risks within operational control. Resolve the operational risks effectively and timeously. Filing of evaluation reports under respective product folders. Assisting with the compliance of the Quality Management System requirements of the unit. Identify and record operational risks and consult with the Unit Manager. Development and maintenance of guiding principles (SOPs, guidelines, policies, etc.) to ensure consistency, efficiency, and alignment of PV processes. Identify and implement new approaches to improve and to maintain consistency, efficiency, and alignment of PV processes. Update policy documents to improve and maintain high levels of operational efficiency and effectiveness. 

People Management: Self-management. Manage own Performance and Individual Development Plan. Living the SAHPRA values. Sharing knowledge with and informal coaching peers (as applicable).