Drug shortages in Najran region, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Problem: Drug shortage raise the possibility of medication errors and undesirable side effects as the total supply of all medications is inadequate to meet the current or projected demand. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of drug shortages in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the characteristics of drug shortages in the southern region of Saudi Arabia for the duration between March and June 2022. Healthcare professionals who work at hospitals in the southern region of Saudi Arabia were invited to participate in this study. Results: This study involved 705 participants. Pharmacists made up around half of them (46.2%). Around 76.3% of them were aware that there were drug shortages. More than half of them (61.4%) acknowledged that there is a drug shortage at their hospital on a daily to monthly basis. The majority of them (71.6%) stated that generic drug shortages are a typical occurrence. Tablets and capsules are the most frequent dosage forms that face shortages, according to about 40% of participants. Vitamins and supplements and antimicrobial agents (antibiotics-antivirals-antifungals) were the most often reported therapeutic areas that frequently encounter drug shortages, with 58.9% and 45.5%, respectively. Conclusion: A common issue in Saudi Arabia's southern region is a shortage of drugs. The implementation of numerous preventive strategies is necessary to avoid drug shortages. To address any unanticipated drug shortage issues, healthcare professionals should receive more training on the usage of alternative drugs.

Keywords

• Drug
• Medication
• Pharmaceutical
• Saudi Arabia
• Shortage