| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Allied Health |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Pharmacist |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | Fresher or up to 3 years in a pharmacy |
Pharmacy Assistant job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Pharmacy Assistant
Department: Allied Health
Reports to: Pharmacist
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Pharmacy Assistant supports the pharmacist with stock, billing and customer service in a pharmacy. They receive and shelve stock, check expiry, pack and hand over medicines under supervision, bill sales, and keep the pharmacy tidy and well stocked. The role reports to the Pharmacist or pharmacy manager. A good pharmacy assistant keeps shelves stocked and expiry checked, bills accurately, serves customers politely, and supports the pharmacist so dispensing runs smoothly without stock or billing errors.
Key responsibilities
- Receive stock, check it against purchase orders, and shelve it correctly.
- Check expiry dates regularly and move near expiry stock for action.
- Pack and hand over dispensed medicines to customers under the pharmacist's supervision.
- Bill sales accurately and handle cash, card and digital payments.
- Maintain shelf arrangement, labelling and cleanliness in the pharmacy.
- Track stock levels and prepare reorder lists for the pharmacist.
- Store medicines correctly, including cold chain items in the refrigerator.
- Help customers find over the counter items and general products.
- Record purchases, sales and returns in the pharmacy software.
- Support the pharmacist with counting, labelling and record keeping.
Requirements
- Higher secondary pass, science preferred
- Certificate in pharmacy assistance is an advantage
- Basic computer and billing skills
- Fresher or up to 3 years in a pharmacy
KRAs and KPIs for a Pharmacy Assistant
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Stock availability | Shelves kept stocked so avoidable stock outs stay below the monthly target |
| Expiry checks | Expiry checks done on schedule so expiry wastage stays within target |
| Billing accuracy | Billing errors and cash mismatches held below the monthly target |
| Customer service | Customers served politely and promptly with no valid complaint |
| Cold chain | Refrigerated stock stored correctly with temperature logs maintained |
| Records | Purchase, sales and return entries accurate in the software |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Pharmacy billing software, Refrigerator with temperature log, Stock registers, Barcode scanner, Cash drawer.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacist after qualifying, Store Supervisor
Interview questions for a Pharmacy Assistant
- How do you organise stock so near expiry medicines are used first?
- How do you make sure billing and cash tally at the end of a shift?
- How do you handle a rush of customers while keeping accuracy?
- How do you store medicines that need refrigeration?
- What would you do if a customer asked for a prescription only medicine?
- Tell me about a time you kept the pharmacy running smoothly during a busy day.
Managing a Pharmacy Assistant in ZeniaHR
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What does a pharmacy assistant do?
A pharmacy assistant supports the pharmacist with stock, billing and customer service. They receive and shelve stock, check expiry, pack and hand over medicines under supervision, bill sales, and keep the pharmacy tidy and stocked. They help customers with over the counter items and support the pharmacist so dispensing runs smoothly.
Can a pharmacy assistant dispense medicines?
A pharmacy assistant can pack and hand over medicines and support dispensing, but only under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. Checking prescriptions, deciding on drugs and doses, and keeping schedule drug records are the responsibility of the qualified pharmacist. The assistant handles stock, billing and service around that clinical work.
What qualifications do you need to be a pharmacy assistant?
Most pharmacy assistant roles ask for a higher secondary pass, with science preferred, and a certificate in pharmacy assistance is an advantage. Basic computer and billing skills help. Employers look for careful stock and expiry handling, accurate billing and cash management, and polite customer service. Some assistants later qualify as pharmacists.