A Pharmacist Internship is available at Dis-Chem Musgrave in Durban for BPharm graduates who want structured practical experience in a retail pharmacy environment.
The internship is designed to help graduates apply their university knowledge while gaining supervised exposure to prescription dispensing, patient care, medical aid claims, medicine stock control and the broader scope of professional pharmacy practice.
Applications close on 29 November 2026.
Who can apply for the Dis-Chem Pharmacist Internship?
Applicants need:
- Grade 12 / Matric
- Four-year BPharm qualification
- Computer literacy, including MS Office
Previous holiday work during the degree would be advantageous.
Experience with:
- Unisolve
- E-Scripting
would also count in your favour.
What will you learn during the internship?
The internship is designed to develop practical pharmacy knowledge while reinforcing the principles covered during the BPharm degree.
You can expect supervised exposure to:
- Prescription dispensing
- Patient counselling
- Scheduled medicines
- Medicine preparation
- Stock control
- Medical aid claims
- Chronic medication authorisations
- Dispensary administration
- Customer service
- Pharmacy procedures
The programme also supports the development of professional judgement, accountability and lifelong learning.
What pharmacy work can an intern perform?
Under the direct personal supervision of a pharmacist, a Pharmacist Intern may perform services within the applicable supervised scope.
This can include:
- Selling Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 medicines
- Assisting with compounding
- Assisting with preparation of sterile or non-sterile medicines
- Assisting with medicine manufacturing
- Repackaging medicines
- Managing stock of scheduled medicines
- Ordering medicines
- Preparing prescriptions
- Selecting medication
- Labelling medication
- Supplying medication
- Providing medicine-use instructions
- Providing health information
The role is structured around supervised training and professional development.
Will you work with Schedule medicines?
Yes. The internship includes exposure to scheduled medicines under pharmacist supervision.
This can include:
- Distribution and control of stock
- Ordering medicines and scheduled substances
- Prescription preparation
- Supply of medicines after pharmacist evaluation
All work must follow the relevant legal, professional and pharmacy procedures.
How important is prescription accuracy?
Prescription accuracy is one of the most important parts of the role.
You will need to:
- Interpret scripts accurately
- Capture prescription details correctly
- Verify patient information
- Pick the correct medication
- Pack medication accurately
- Label medication correctly
- Understand common dosages
- Recognise important drug interactions
All prescriptions entered must be checked for accuracy and signed by a pharmacist.
Will you work directly with patients?
Yes. The internship includes direct patient and customer interaction.
You may need to:
- Assist patients at the dispensary
- Assist at the self-medication counter
- Support front-shop queries
- Explain the correct use of medicine
- Follow up on scripts
- Explain medical aid costs
- Provide health information
Strong communication and customer-service skills are therefore important.
What medical aid administration is involved?
You will also gain exposure to pharmacy claims and medical scheme procedures.
This can include:
- Processing claims documentation
- Correcting rejected scripts
- Understanding medical aid procedures
- Explaining medical aid costs
- Supporting chronic medication authorisations
- Supporting HIV and AIDS medication authorisations
- Supporting oncology medication authorisations
This gives interns exposure to both clinical and administrative pharmacy functions.
Will you work with pharmacy systems?
Yes. The role requires computer literacy, and experience with the following would be advantageous:
- Unisolve
- E-Scripting
- Microsoft Office
You will also work with customer profiles and prescription records.
What stock control responsibilities apply?
You may assist with:
- Reporting low stock
- Reporting out-of-stock items
- Reporting stock errors
- Supporting scheduled stocktakes
- Exercising stock control
- Supporting asset control
Stock accuracy is important in a pharmacy environment because medicine availability and control affect both patients and regulatory compliance.
What skills will help you succeed?
Useful skills include:
- Communication
- Listening
- Customer service
- Attention to detail
- Numerical ability
- Problem solving
- Conflict management
- Teamwork
- Time management
- Ability to work under pressure
- Professional integrity
You should also be able to apply the knowledge gained during the BPharm curriculum in a practical setting.
What language skills are required?
Applicants need:
- English
- A second language
You should be able to read, write and speak both.
A third additional language would be advantageous.
What workplace conditions should you expect?
The role includes:
- Retail working hours
- Controlled room temperature
- Security procedures
- Limited working space
- Health and safety requirements
- Risk stock
- Long periods of standing
Applicants should therefore be comfortable working in a busy retail pharmacy environment.
Do you need a driver’s licence?
Yes. Applicants need:
- Valid driver’s licence
- Own reliable transport
What registration is required?
Applicants must be registered with the relevant South African Pharmacy Council requirements or hold a valid work permit where applicable.
What benefits are offered?
Dis-Chem lists:
- Market-related salary
- Monthly and annual performance pay
- Medical aid
- Provident fund
- Staff account
What are the internship details?
Employer: Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited
Store: Musgrave
Position: Pharmacist Intern
Location: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Employment type: Contract
Industry: Pharmaceuticals
Experience level: Entry level
Minimum qualification: BPharm, four years
Closing date: 29 November 2026
How do you apply?
Applications must be submitted online.
Apply for the Dis-Chem Pharmacist Internship
Before applying, make sure your CV clearly reflects your BPharm qualification, computer skills, SAPC registration status and any previous pharmacy, holiday-work, Unisolve or E-Scripting exposure.
