Pharmacy workforce in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and opportunities: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Saudi Arabia has shown rapid growth in its pharmacy workforce and pharmacy education over the last decade. The health indicators demonstrate an increased need for medications and, thus, the accessibility of pharmacies. Since pharmacists are considered the most accessible health care professionals, the country has experienced a continuous demand to produce more pharmacists.

Objectives: The objectives of the study are to evaluate the pharmacy workforce in Saudi Arabia and to identify pharmaceutical manpower issues.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional approach was used. Data were obtained from the latest version of the Health Statistical Yearbook-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2016; Saudi Commission for Health Specialties publications, 2018.

Results: In general, the exponential increase in the number of pharmacy schools has produced more pharmacists in the rural areas of the country, but inequitable distribution of the workforce still exists. The reliance on nonindigenous pharmacists, especially in the private sector, is substantial. Employed male pharmacists outnumber females, mainly due to the cultural and social factors that limit the participation of women in community pharmacy, which is the largest employment sector. The employment rate shows limited opportunities for Saudi pharmacists at MOH, as they have already Saudised almost all pharmacy positions at their health care facilities. However, the private sector needs to assume responsibility for their share of the renationalisation of the profession in order to provide jobs for local pharmacists.

Conclusions: Regular, more detailed profiling of the pharmacy workforce is an essential step to achieving effective pharmacy workforce planning. Currently, a large gap exists in our knowledge of the country's workforce.

Keywords: Saudi Arabia; employment prospects; pharmacy workforce; supply and demand.