Drug Shortages in Saudi Arabia: Root Causes and Recommendations

Publication date: Available online 12 May 2018Source: Saudi Pharmaceutical JournalAuthor(s): Yazed S. Alruthia, Monira Alwhaibi, Mashal F. Alotaibi, Shatha A. Asiri, Bushra M. Alghamdi, Ghadah S. Almuaythir, Wejdan R. Alsharif, Hala H. Alrasheed, Yahya A. Alswayeh, Abdulaziz J. Alotaibi, Mohammad Almeshal, Saleh N. Aldekhail, Abdulrahman Alhusaini, Sulaiman A. Alrashed, Ali M. Alrumaih, Mohammed A. Dahhas, Mohammed A. Alghamdi, Mohammad S. Aleheidib, Mohamed H. Alhaidari, Jameel A. AlharbiAbstractDrug shortages are a multifaceted problem that has been recurring in Saudi Arabia over the past decade with its significant negative impact on patient care. However, there is a dearth of evidence about possible domestic reasons, if any, behind this recurring problem. Recently, the Pharmacy Education Unit at King Saud University College of Pharmacy has called for a meeting with multiple stakeholders from academia, pharmaceutical care, pharmaceutical industry, purchasing and planning, and regulatory bodies to unveil the root domestic causes of the drug shortages in the Kingdom. Four major topics were used to guide the discussion in this meeting, including: current situation of drug shortages in Saudi Arabia, major factors contributing to drug shortages, challenges and obstacles to improve drug supply, and stakeholders’ recommendations to manage drug shortages. The meeting was audio-recorded and transcribed into verbatim by five authors. The text was then reviewed and analyzed to iden...
Source: Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research