Job Description
Pharmacist, Clinical Trails Unit
Location Karachi, Pakistan
Introduction
Aga Khan University chartered in 1983 as Pakistan's first private international university, is committed to the provision of education, research, and health care of international standards relevant to Pakistan and the region. The affiliated Aga Khan University Hospital provides state-of-the-art clinical facilities and well-equipped diagnostic services. The University currently has teaching sites in Pakistan, East Africa, the United Kingdom, and Afghanistan, and is a major component of Aga Khan Development Network.
As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.
Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) is a Department dedicated to develop a center of excellence for high quality and high impact clinical trials both nationally & internationally. The Department promotes AKU’s vision by providing leadership, consultation and facilitation in different phases of clinical trials in compliance with the International Standards and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines.
This is a grant-funded contractual position.
Responsibilities
You will be responsible to:
- review clinical trial protocols and relevant SOPs, IB, or any other study documents
- liaise with principal investigators and/or trial coordinators for IP management, promptly reporting any discrepancies or deviations
- prepare and dispense investigational products as per protocol, institutional, and other regulatory requirements
- communicate with and train staff anticipated to participate in any aspect of the clinical investigational drug trial management
- maintain responsibility for the management of the inventory for clinical investigational drug trials; order, replace, and return study materials as required
- maintain appropriate logs for dispensing, storage, return, and temperature monitoring, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of products procured as per protocol requirements
- store IP as per storage requirements and maintain the cold chain as well as temperature records of the fridge
- monitor pharmacy activities daily to ensure adherence to study protocols and dispensing procedures
- maintain a pharmacy binder containing dispensing logs, temperature monitoring logs, accountability, and return management logs
- communicate any concerns regarding ethical issues or deviations from established hospital/CTU policies and procedures to the supervisor
- orient staff to the pharmacy's role in clinical investigational drug trials
- participate in the orientation and training of new employees and pharmacy trainees/interns as required
- provide drug information to physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals related to clinical investigational trial drugs
- coordinate with sponsors, EPI center, MMD purchase, and warehouse for study drug procurement
- develop procurement plans and share them with relevant study and CTU personnel accordingly
- ensure the accuracy and integrity of products procured as per protocol requirements
- replenish drugs as per the planned schedule
- attend and contribute to interdisciplinary team meetings relating to clinical investigational drug trials
- develop and generate randomization as per protocol if required
- liaise with CTU, department of pharmacy, principal investigators, clinical trial coordinators, EPI, MMD, and trial sponsors
- consult with other pharmacy personnel to obtain information/expertise in support of the investigational drug trials as required
- effectively communicate with colleagues and allied health professionals.
Requirements
You should have:
- pharm. D, MS, or other advanced degree in pharmacy practice
- must have registration from the Pharmacy Council of Sindh
- at least three years of experience in a hospital-based pharmacy, related environment, or equivalent
- research and clinical experience will be an asset
- strong communication and interpersonal skills
- proficiency in the use of computers and related Office software
- proficient in written and verbal English language.
Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.
