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A Qualitative Study Exploring the Management of Medicine Shortages in the Community Pharmacy of Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Sumaira Omer

    (Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an 710061, China
    Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Salamat Ali

    (Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan)

  • Sundus Shukar

    (Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an 710061, China
    Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Ali Hassan Gillani

    (Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an 710061, China
    Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Yu Fang

    (Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an 710061, China
    Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Caijun Yang

    (Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an 710061, China
    Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an 710061, China)

Abstract

Managing medicine shortages consumes ample time of pharmacists worldwide. This study aimed to explore the strategies and resources being utilized by community pharmacists to tackle a typical shortage problem. Qualitative face-to-face interviews were conducted. A total of 31 community pharmacists from three cities (Lahore, Multan, and Dera Ghazi Khan) in Pakistan were sampled, using a purposive approach. All interviews were audio taped, transcribed verbatim, and subjected to thematic analysis. The analysis yielded five broad themes and eighteen subthemes. The themes highlighted (1) the current scenarios of medicine shortages in a community setting, (2) barriers encountered during the shortage management, (3) impacts, (4) corrective actions performed for handling shortages and (4) future interventions. Participants reported that medicine shortages were frequent. Unethical activities such as black marketing, stockpiling, bias distribution and bulk purchasing were the main barriers. With respect to managing shortages, maintaining inventories was the most common proactive approach, while the recommendation of alternative drugs to patients was the most common counteractive approach. Based on the findings, management strategies for current shortages in community pharmacies are insufficient. Shortages would continue unless potential barriers are addressed through proper monitoring of the sale and consumption of drugs, fair distribution, early communication, and collaboration.

Suggested Citation

  • Sumaira Omer & Salamat Ali & Sundus Shukar & Ali Hassan Gillani & Yu Fang & Caijun Yang, 2021. "A Qualitative Study Exploring the Management of Medicine Shortages in the Community Pharmacy of Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10665-:d:654007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Heiskanen, K. & Ahonen, R. & Karttunen, P. & Kanerva, R. & Timonen, J., 2015. "Medicine shortages – A study of community pharmacies in Finland," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(2), pages 232-238.
    2. Said, André & Goebel, Ralf & Ganso, Matthias & Zagermann-Muncke, Petra & Schulz, Martin, 2018. "Drug shortages may compromise patient safety: Results of a survey of the reference pharmacies of the Drug Commission of German Pharmacists," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(12), pages 1302-1309.
    3. Emily Chen & Susan Goold & Sam Harrison & Iman Ali & Ibtihal Makki & Stanley S Kent & Andrew G Shuman, 2021. "Drug shortage management: A qualitative assessment of a collaborative approach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(4), pages 1-13, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yipeng Lan & Chenlu Meng & Lihua Sun & Zhe Huang, 2024. "Coping with drug shortages: A study of government-enterprise option cooperation stockpiling strategies for drugs in shortage considering API surrogate stockpiling subsidies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(7), pages 1-33, July.

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