Why Hospital Pharmacists Have Failed to Manage Antimalarial Drugs Stock-Outs in Pakistan? A Qualitative Insight

Purpose. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of hospital pharmacists towards drug management and reasons underlying stock-outs of antimalarial drugs in Pakistan. Methods. A qualitative study was designed to explore the perceptions of hospital pharmacists regarding drug management and irratio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Malaria Research and Treatment 2013, Vol.2013 (2013), p.56-64
Main Authors: Malik, Madeeha, Hassali, Mohamed Azmi Ahmad, Shafie, Asrul Akmal, Hussain, Azhar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aims and objectives
Algorithms
Antimalarials
Beliefs, opinions and attitudes
Developing countries
Drug stores
Expenditures
Health care policy
Health facilities
Hospitals
LDCs
Malaria
Patients
Pharmacists
Professionals
Public sector
Sampling techniques
Studies
Suppliers
Supply and demand
Surveys
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Summary:Purpose. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of hospital pharmacists towards drug management and reasons underlying stock-outs of antimalarial drugs in Pakistan. Methods. A qualitative study was designed to explore the perceptions of hospital pharmacists regarding drug management and irrational use of antimalarial drugs in two major cities of Pakistan, namely, Islamabad (national capital) and Rawalpindi (twin city). Semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 hospital pharmacists using indepth interview guides at a place and time convenient for the respondents. Interviews, which were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, were evaluated by thematic content analysis and by other authors’ analysis. Results. Most of the respondents were of the view that financial constraints, inappropriate drug management, and inadequate funding were the factors contributing toward the problem of antimalarial drug stock-outs in healthcare facilities of Pakistan. The pharmacists anticipated that prescribing by nonproprietary names, training of health professionals, accepted role of hospital pharmacist in drug management, implementation of essential drug list and standard treatment guidelines for malaria in the healthcare system can minimize the problem of drug stock outs in healthcare system of Pakistan. Conclusion. The current study showed that all the respondents in the two cities agreed that hospital pharmacist has failed to play an effective role in efficient management of anti-malarial drugs stock-outs.
ISSN:2044-4362
2090-8075
2044-4362
DOI:10.1155/2013/342843