Hospital pharmacy practice in Saudi Arabia: Dispensing and administration in the Riyadh region

Abstract

Hospital pharmacies in the Riyadh region are fairly well developed in providing dispensing and administration services. Further improvement can be achieved by increasing the use of new technologies such as bar-code technology, unit dose drug distribution systems, pharmacy-based IV admixture services, smart infusion pumps, and automated medication distribution.

The Value of Clinical Pharmacist Consultation Visits at Ministry of Health Hospitals in Saudi Arabia: Intravenous Admixture Services and Pharmacy Total Quality Management

“…After one year several newly established projects started and others update and improve them. The newly formed nine projects of IVDS look like what found with Alomi and his colleague's studies 19,[21][22] and reach the same services what found by Alsaltan et al 2 In the pharmacy total quality management, there were one projects newly established at all hospital pharmacies while three projects applied at one hospital only because it was requested by hospital total quality management while another hospital did not seek it. The new projects like patient satisfaction program, as found in Alomi et al studies.…”

“…[1] In 2012, Al sultan and his colleagues did a survey of pharmacy practice in twenty hospitals with the low percentage of MOH hospitals, he found in the IV admixture practice (23-46%), clinical pharmacy (34.4%), and electronic prescriptions (28%). [2][3] Another study done by the author of a national survey of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), he found twentyfour only of MOH hospitals had TPN services, shortages of TPN devices requirements, and TPN safety requirements not existed at more than 50% of hospitals. [4][5][6] In the recent of national pharmacy practice for sixty MOH hospitals should very low percentages of pharmacy services.…”

Pharmacy Practice and the Health Care System in Saudi Arabia

“…Some are completely decentralized with satellite pharmacies, others are completely centralized with cart-fills, and some are hybrids, with both a central pharmacy and satellite pharmacies. 20 A recent report showed that 74% of hospitals have a completely centralized drug distribution system, with larger hospitals tending to have a decentralized system or a hybrid system that involves automated dispensing machines (ADMs). This pattern is comparable to the United States, where about 75% of smaller hospitals also have a centralized system.…”

“…Some Saudi hospitals are advanced and have sophisticated robotics in both inpatient and outpatient pharmacies. 20 It is estimated that 21% of hospitals use ADMs, 10.3% have ADMs that are connected to a computer system ("profiled ADMs"), and 17.1% have ADMs in a decentralized setting. 20 About 20.6% of the hospitals also use some form of bar coding technology, with or without a robot for dose verification.…”

“…20 It is estimated that 21% of hospitals use ADMs, 10.3% have ADMs that are connected to a computer system ("profiled ADMs"), and 17.1% have ADMs in a decentralized setting. 20 About 20.6% of the hospitals also use some form of bar coding technology, with or without a robot for dose verification. 20 Among hospitals with dispensing on patient care units, most (65.4%) have the pharmacy technicians prepare the dose, which is then verified by a pharmacist.…”