Xhafaj Delina, Vito Sonila, Xhafaj Alban
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Science, Albanian University, 1001 Tirana, Albania.
Department of Data and Digitalization, Intrum S.P.A., 20121 Milan, Italy.
Pharmacy (Basel). 2024 Nov 7;12(6):166. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy12060166.
Drug shortages are a significant global issue, particularly affecting healthcare systems in resource-limited countries such as Albania. Pharmacists play a critical role in managing these shortages, yet little is known about their experiences and perspectives. This study aims to explore pharmacists' views on the current drug shortages in Albania, identifying the most affected drug classes, and suggesting potential strategies for mitigating these shortages. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 93 pharmacists across Albania between December 2023 and May 2024. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that addressed the types of drugs experiencing shortages, the causes of these shortages, and pharmacists' coping strategies. Cardiovascular and central nervous system medications were reported as the most frequently affected, with supply chain disruptions, regulatory hurdles, and low domestic production cited as key contributors. The findings suggest an urgent need for national policy reforms focusing on improving supply chain resilience and boosting the local pharmaceutical production. The pharmacists proposed mitigation strategies, including stricter regulatory oversight, improved communication channels, and increased local production to reduce dependence on imports. These recommendations underscore the study's contribution to understanding how tailored, pharmacist-informed strategies could strengthen Albania's healthcare system.
药品短缺是一个重大的全球性问题，尤其影响到阿尔巴尼亚等资源有限国家的医疗系统。药剂师在应对这些短缺方面发挥着关键作用，但人们对他们的经历和观点了解甚少。本研究旨在探讨药剂师对阿尔巴尼亚当前药品短缺的看法，确定受影响最大的药品类别，并提出缓解这些短缺的潜在策略。2023年12月至2024年5月期间，对阿尔巴尼亚各地的93名药剂师进行了横断面调查。使用在线问卷收集数据，问卷涉及出现短缺的药品类型、短缺原因以及药剂师的应对策略。据报告，心血管和中枢神经系统药物受影响最为频繁，供应链中断、监管障碍和国内产量低被认为是主要原因。研究结果表明，迫切需要进行国家政策改革，重点是提高供应链弹性和促进当地药品生产。药剂师提出了缓解策略，包括更严格的监管监督、改善沟通渠道以及增加当地生产以减少对进口的依赖。这些建议强调了该研究对理解如何制定以药剂师为依据的针对性策略来加强阿尔巴尼亚医疗系统的贡献。
