Senior Specialist, Pharmacy and Drug Control

Ministry of Public Health - Qatar; Doha; On-site; QAR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Public Health - Qatar seeks a senior regulatory professional to ensure quality, safety, efficacy, and availability of medicines in Qatar. The role focuses on applying regulatory systems based on scientific foundations and global standards, and strengthening cooperation with partners to meet MOPH objectives.

You will monitor applications for local agents and manufacturers, oversee pricing compliance, and guide teams in implementing Pharmacy and Drug Control Department policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences or Pharmacy from a recognized university.
• Minimum 6 years of professional experience in narcotics and controlled substances.
• Experience includes direct work with the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).

Responsibilities

• Support and provide guidance in preparing guidelines and SOPs to align with local and international legislation.
• Monitor and assess applications for local agents, companies, and manufacturers to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with the Head of the section to implement Pharmacy and Drug Control Department goals.
• Oversee pricing/re-pricing requests for compliance with Qatar regulations and MOPH policies.
• Prepare technical study reports addressing non-compliances and recommendations.
• Supervise condemnation processes of non-complied medications and narcotics.
• Inspect community pharmacies and healthcare facility pharmacies to enforce the Pharmacy Act.
• Stay updated on new laws and advise on policies and systems changes.
• Prepare warning memos for serious risk and counterfeit products.
• Prepare price lists and communicate approvals to agents/pharmacies.
• Oversee importer registration and special importation applications for compliance.
• Implement Qatari narcotic and psychotropic drug laws for imports.
• Verify approvals and import permits and review registration of medicines and supplements.
• Provide guidance and direction to teams as directed by the Head of Inspection.
• Perform other duties to meet organizational needs.
• Assist with internal audits and regulatory reporting as required.
• Ensure alignment with international best practices in pharmaceutical regulation.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences/ Pharmacy

Job description

Job Summary:

The job holder shall be responsible to ensure high quality, safety, efficacy, availability, and compliance of pharmaceutical products marketed in Qatar, through the application of regulatory systems based on scientific foundations, global standards and strengthen cooperation with partners to meet the MOPH objectives and legal requirements.

Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Support and provide guidance in preparing guidelines and section SOPs to keep up to date with international and local, legislation and customer practices, in order to encourage the safe, rational and effective use of medicines.

2. Monitor and assess the submitted applications for approval of local agents, companies & manufacturers of pharmaceutical products in Qatar, for compliance with current regulations and the policies of MOPH ensuring the quality standards are met.

3. Work closely with the Head of section to implement the goals and objectives prepared by Pharmacy and Drug Control Department.

4. Oversee and evaluate submitted pricing/re-pricing requests, for compliance with current regulations of the State of Qatar and the policies of MOPH ensuring the quality standards are met.

5. Prepare comprehensive technical study reports for different types of application addressing any non-compliances and including proper recommendations.

6. Supervise condemnation processes of non-complied medications, narcotics and psychotropic medicines (expired and/or residuals).

7. Inspect the community pharmacies and the pharmacies in all healthcare facilities to enforce a clear and detailed understanding of the Pharmacy Act (3), of all relevant drugs.

8. Supervise condemnation processes of non-complied medications, narcotics and psychotropic medicines (expired and/or residuals).

9. Stay abreast of new applicable laws and provide organizational management with updates on how the changes will affect the work and offer advice about Pharmacy and Drug Control department policies, practices and systems.

10. Prepare warning memos for serious risk and counterfeited pharmaceutical products to be circulated to healthcare providers across the country.

11. Prepare the prices lists and communicate with relevant departments/sections for approval and circulate the approved prices to different agents and pharmacies.

12. Oversee the assessment of the importer registration and special importation applications for compliance with current regulations of the State of Qatar and the policies of MOPH ensuring the quality standards are met.

13. Implement Qatari law of narcotic and psychotropic drugs imported to Qatar personally or through registered importers and other health organizations.

14. Verify approvals and Import Permits from Pharmacy and Drug Control and review registration of Medicines, Pharmaceutical Products, and Dietary Supplements and their conformity.

15. Provide guidance, support and direction to the teams, as appropriate and/or directed by the Head of the Inspection.

16. Perform other duties as requested to meet the ongoing organizational needs.

Essential Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences/ Pharmacy from a recognized university

Essential License:

Subject to Healthcare Specialties Department regulations.

Essential Experience:

Minimum 6 years of professional experience in narcotics and controlled substances, including direct experience working with the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).