Who confirms the competency of staff undertaking dispensing duties?

• A. Medical Director
• B. MO
• C. Head Of Department
• D. Quality Manager

Answer: (B)

The main idea is about who has clinical responsibility to verify that someone can safely dispense medicines. The Medical Officer is the clinician who oversees dispensing practice and patient safety, so they are typically the one who evaluates whether a staff member has the necessary knowledge, skills, and competence to dispense. This involves confirming completion of required training, performing or reviewing competency assessments, and ensuring ongoing proficiency through refreshers and monitoring performance. The Medical Officer ties dispensing duties directly to clinical accountability and patient care.

The other roles handle different responsibilities. A Medical Directoroften sets overarching policy and governance rather than signing off on individual competence. The Head of Department manages departmental operations, while the Quality Manager focuses on quality systems, SOPs, audits, and corrective actions. They support competence indirectly, but the actual confirmation of an individual’s dispensing competency usually rests with the Medical Officer.