HIV Access Pharmacist: ACCESS-LA

About MSF

Doctors without Borders (MSF) Southern Africa is a global network of principled professionals who specialise in medical humanitarian work driven by our common humanity and guided by medical ethics. We work together in teams, small and large, to respond to the medical needs of people affected by conflict, disasters, epidemics and those excluded from healthcare.

Doctors Without Borders team members are on the ground, working directly, every day. We bear witness and describe what is happening, to raise awareness about the experiences of the people we assist and the situations where we work. We alert the public to emerging crises, acute emergencies and serious challenges, such as lack of access and exclusion from healthcare – and to mobilise support for MSF’s work and social mission, provoking change.

 

Today, MSF is present in more than 70 countries, where thousands of MSF doctors, nurses, logisticians, water-and-sanitation experts, and other medical and non-medical professionals work together to bring essential health services to people caught in humanitarian crises. MSF South Africa is in Johannesburg with an office in Cape Town too. MSF SA is governed by the MSF Southern Africa Association, which is made up of more than 300 members from seven countries in the region.

The Project: ACCESS-LA

MSF is launching ACCESS-LA (Accelerating Community-Centred Equitable Scale-Up of Long-Acting PrEP), a three-year Access Fund initiative designed to catalyse equitable, timely, and affordable access to Long-Acting (LA) PrEP for HIV prevention. The project focuses specifically on the introduction of Lenacapavir (LEN-LA)—a twice-yearly injectable—and other LA formulations (e.g., Cabotegravir) to address the prevention needs of marginalized and criminalized populations who face systemic exclusion from existing health services.

The project operates through three integrated pillars:

1. Advocacy & Communication: Addressing licensing, pricing, and regulatory barriers.
2. Implementation: "Light-touch" support to introduce LA-PrEP in diverse MSF-supported contexts
3. Monitoring & Research: Generating operational and effectiveness evidence to inform global guidelines, procurement, and advocacy.
   

The Role:

• The HIV Access Pharmacist provides pharmaceutical, regulatory, and access expertise to support equitable access to long-acting HIV prevention products.
• The role focuses on translating complex pharmaceutical market, regulatory, intellectual property, and supply dynamics into practical access pathways for MSF projects and partner countries.
• The position works closely with internal MSF pharmacist networks, advocacy teams, and global health stakeholders to identify and address barriers to access related to pricing, licensing, regulatory approval, quality assurance, and supply availability.
• Through technical leadership, market intelligence, and stakeholder engagement, the role contributes to shaping enabling environments for affordable, quality-assured access to Lenacapavir and Cabotegravir for PrEP globally.
  

The HIV Access Pharmacist supports MSF's efforts to secure equitable, quality-assured, and affordable access to long-acting HIV prevention products, particularly Lenacapavir and Cabotegravir 

the role translates pharmaceutical policy, regulatory developments, and market intelligence into operational strategies that facilitate access in MSF projects and influence broader global access conditions. 

Scope of responsabilities

1. Manufacturer Engagement & Market Shaping

• In close collaboration with supply and pharma QA, engage with pharmaceutical manufacturers (e.g., Gilead, ViiV, Merck and generic producers) on issues related to pricing, supply availability, voluntary licensing, and access conditions for long-acting HIV prevention products.
• Support policy dialogue aimed at expanding the geographic scope of voluntary licenses and improving access terms.
• Engage with authorities on regulatory affairs or for lobbying purposes.
• Maintain structured engagement with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and relevant partners on licensing implementation and access strategies.
• Monitor market developments affecting pricing, supply availability, and generic entry, and provide technical analysis to inform MSF advocacy strategies.

2. Regulatory and Quality Assurance Pathways

• In close collaboration with the QA pharmacist, monitor regulatory developments related to CAB-LA and Lenacapavir, including WHO Prequalification, stringent regulatory authorities, and national regulatory approvals.

• Support regulatory pathways in priority countries, including registration processes, import authorisations, regulatory waivers, and compassionate or humanitarian use mechanisms.
• In close collaboration with the International Pharmacy Coordinator and relevant MSF technical teams, identify appropriate quality assurance pathways, including WHO PQ or Global Fund ER mechanisms where needed.

3. Country Readiness & Technical Support

• Support MSF projects and operational centres in preparing for the introduction of long-acting PrEP.
• Support country readiness assessments and help identify solutions to regulatory, procurement, or access barriers.
• In collaboration with the pharma unit team, provide technical guidance to projects on product selection, administration protocols, pharmacovigilance, temperature management, supply planning, and decentralized delivery approaches. 
• Contribute to internal capacity building through training sessions, technical guidance materials, and participation in pharmacist network and HIV Medical Platform discussions.

4. Market Intelligence, Evidence & Advocacy Support

• In close collaboration with pharma teams, monitor developments related to regulatory status, licensing, intellectual property, pricing, and supply for long-acting PrEP products. Produce concise briefings for MSF pharmacists, operations teams, and advocacy colleagues to inform strategic decision-making.
• Coordinate data collection and analysis on product availability, pricing, procurement lead times, and supply risks.
• Provide technical inputs for advocacy materials including policy briefs, press releases, technical notes, talking points, and lead reports such as Untangling the Web.
• Engage with key global health stakeholders including WHO, the Global Fund, Unitaid, regional technical bodies, and civil society coalitions, and represent MSF in relevant technical consultation when appropriate.

Requirements

Education

• Qualified Pharmacist (MPharm, PharmD, or equivalent). 
• Postgraduate training in Public Health, Pharmaceutical Policy, Pharmacoeconomics, or Global Health is an asset.

Experience

• Experience working with HIV products or infectious disease programmes is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience on access, including engaging with pharmaceutical manufacturers on issues related to pricing, licensing, intellectual property, or supply.
• Experience working with WHO PQ, Global Fund ERP, or national regulatory processes.
• Experience working in humanitarian or resource-limited settings, preferably with MSF or another international NGO.
• Experience conducting pharmaceutical dossier review for quality assurance or procurement is an advantage.
• Experience in engagement with authorities on regulatory affairs or for lobbying purposes
• Experience supporting country implementation and training activities.

Languages

• Fluent English; French and Portuguese/Spanish strongly preferred; other languages an asset.

Knowledge

• Pharmaceutical regulatory pathways 
• Intellectual property and voluntary licensing mechanisms 
• Global health market dynamics and supply chains 
• Quality assurance standards (WHO PQ, GF ERP) 
• Strong analytical skills related to pricing analysis, supply intelligence, and regulatory monitoring.

Competencies

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills. 
• Ability to translate complex pharmaceutical issues into practical operational solutions. 
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical and advocacy audiences. 
• Ability to work autonomously while coordinating across multiple teams. 
• Commitment to medical ethics, confidentiality, and responsible data governance. 
• Sensitivity to equity considerations and the needs of key populations.

Contract conditions and benefits

• Three-year fixed-term contract – 50%

Closing date: 4 June 2026

Contract start date: June2026

This job description may be amended in line with the activities or evolution of the project.

By signing, the employee acknowledges that he/she has read, understood and accepted this document.

MSF is a civil society initiative that brings together individuals committed to the assistance of other human beings in crisis. As such MSF is by choice an association. Each individual working with MSF does it out of conviction and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.

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