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Background: The workforce of clinical pharmacy technician is one the elements of pharmacy strategic plan in Saudi Arabia. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore the demand clinical pharmacy technician’s workforce at Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals and primary health care centers over the past twelve years (2006- 2017) and forecasting during the years (2018-2030) in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: It is a retrospective analysis of twelve years (2006-2017) of MOH hospitals, Primary Health Care Center (PHCs) of the pharmacy technician’s workforce and forecasting for future years (2018-2030). All data were derived from the Ministry of Health statistical year books and any missing appropriate information about pharmacy technician’s workforce that will be estimated through allied healthcare professional’s data in each region including gender. It included all types of pharmacy technicians included in the study while excluded all pharmacists or clinical pharmacist’s workforce at MOH intuitions. All calculations were based on MOH workforce standards of hospitals or PHCs updated literatures. All calculation was done using Microsoft Excel version ten. Results: The total average of hospitals was 253.92 in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The total average demand of clinical pharmacy technician at MOH hospitals will be (4,579.08) over twelve years (2006-2017) with a range (2,899 to 6,619). The total average demand of clinical pharmacy technician at primary healthcare centers will be (1,303) over twelve years (2006-2017) with a range (891 to 1,623). The total average demand of clinical pharmacy technician at hospital forecasting will be (10,271.34) over thirteen years (2008-2030) with a range (8,797.44 to 11,887.11). The total average demand of clinical pharmacy technician at primary healthcare centers forecasting will be (14,270.87) over thirteen years (2018-2030) with a range (12,223.05 to 16,515.79). Conclusion: The Ministry of Health hospitals and primary care centers sectors will be with the highest demand for clinical pharmacy technician in the future. The ratio of pharmacist to clinical pharmacy technician needs to be standardized at hospitals and primary healthcare services. Further, the analysis of the clinical pharmacy technician workforce is required in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Objective: To explore the demand of pharmacy technician workforce at Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) over the past 12 years (2006–2017) and in the future (2018–2030) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of the demand of MOH’s pharmacy technician workforce during the past 12 years (2006-2017) and in the future (2018-2030). All data were derived from the MOH’s Statistical Year Books and any missing information regarding the pharmacy technician workforce will be estimated through allied healthcare professionals’ data from each region including data on gender or nationality. It included pharmacy technician and excluded all types of pharmacists or clinical pharmacist’s workforces at MOH hospital setting. All calculations were based on MOH’s workforce standards of PHCs and updated literature. All calculations were performed using Microsoft Excel version 10. Results: The demand for number pharmacy technicians based on the pharmacist: pharmacy technicians in the ratio standard (1:3) was (4–1,392) with an average number of (608.92) pharmacy technicians required. The demand for number of pharmacist: pharmacy technicians in the ratio standard (1:4) was (37,453–46,058) with an average number of (41,611.17) pharmacy technicians required. While the demand for pharmacist: pharmacy technicians in the ratio standard (1:2) was (18,281–22,218) with an average of (20,159.67). The number of pharmacist: pharmacy technicians required in the future based on the ratio standard (1:3) was 27,867–34,138 with an average number of (30,885.42) pharmacy technicians required. In the future (2018–2030), the pharmacist: pharmacy technicians based on the ratio standard (1:4) was (47,600–64,317) with an average of (54,895.23) pharmacy technicians required. However, the pharmacist: pharmacy technicians based on the ratio standard of (1:2) was (23,154–31,286) with an average number of (26,689.30) pharmacy technicians required. The number of pharmacist: pharmacy technician required based on the ratio standard (1:3) was (35,377–47,802) with an average number of (40,792.27) pharmacy technicians required. Conclusion: In this study, the demands and future forecasting of pharmacy technician workforces was determined. The pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio should be standardized. Pharmacy technicians may be utilized at community pharmacies in the future. Periodic analysis of demand and forecasting at PHCs is highly recommended in Saudi Arabia.
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Objectives: The workforce of hospital pharmacy technician is one the elements of pharmacy strategic plan in Saudi Arabia.: The purpose of this study is to explore the demand workforce of pharmacy technician at MOH hospitals over the past twelve years (2006-2017) and forecasting during (2018-2030) in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: It is a retrospective analysis of twelve years (2006-2017) of Ministry of Health pharmacy technician workforce demand and forecasting in the future (2018- 2030) at MOH organization practice. All data were derived from the Ministry of Health Statistical Year Books and any missing appropriate information about pharmacy technician workforce that will be estimated through allied healthcare professional’s data in each region including gender or nationality. It included pharmacy technician and exclude all types of pharmacists or clinical pharmacist’s workforce at MOH hospital setting. All calculations were based on MOH workforce standards of hospital with update literatures. All calculation was done used Microsoft Excel version ten. Results: The number of pharmacy technician demand based on optimum pharmacy and pharmacist. The pharmacy technician ratio (1:4) demand was (21,212.6-26,091) with an average (22,934.68). While with a ratio of (1:2) the number of pharmacy technician demand was (7,410-8,859) with an average (8,320.55). The number of pharmacy technician forecasting of a ratio (1:3) was (14,300-17,475) with an average (15,627.62). The forecasting number of pharmacy technician in the future within years (2018-2030) over thirteen years based on optimum pharmacy and pharmacist. The pharmacy technician ratio (1:4) forecast was (33,898.6-45,803) with an average (39,577.00). While with a ratio of (1:2) the number of the forecasting pharmacy technician was (16,303-22,028) with an average (19,034.31). The number of pharmacy technician forecasting of ratio (1:3) was (25,100 - 33,916) with an average (29,305.54). Conclusion: The demand of pharmacy technicians and forecasting in the future were determined. The ratio of pharmacist to pharmacy technician in the hospital practice should be standardized. An annual study on hospital pharmacy technician workforce is recommended in Saudi Arabia.
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Objectives: To explore the workforce of pharmacy technician at MOH Primary Healthcare Centers over the past twelve years (2006-2017) in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: It is a retrospective analysis of twelve years (2006-2017) of Ministry of Health pharmacy technician workforce at Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) practice. All data derived from Ministry of Health Statistical Year Books and any missing appropriate information about pharmacy technician workforce, that’s will be estimated through allied healthcare professional’s data at each region including gender or nationality. It included pharmacy technician and exclude all types of pharmacists or clinical pharmacist’s workforces at MOH PHCs setting. All calculations were based on MOH workforce standards of Primary Healthcare Centers. All calculation was done using Microsoft Excel version ten. Results: The total numbers of pharmacy Technician were 8.373 and who distributed at the hospital were 6,620 (79.06%), at primary care centers 1,623(19.38 %) while administration regions 130 (1.55%). The total number of pharmacy technician was (1,623) with rage (891-1,623 and average (1,292). While the average numbers per region of PHCs pharmacy technician were (65) with a range number of (32-84). The average numbers of pharmacy technician per pharmacist per region (9.11) with a range number of (0.83-14.83) annually. The estimated average rage gender distribution of PHCs pharmacy Technician per region were male (31-72) with average 56 (86.15%), while the female was (6-12) and average 9 (13.84%). The estimated average rage nationality distribution of PHCs pharmacy Technician per region was Saudi (30-80) with average 61 (93.84%), while the non-Saudi was (1-13) and average 4 (6.16%). Conclusion: One fifth of the pharmacy technician worked at the Ministry of Health PHCs. The majority of pharmacy technician was Saudi and the male gender. The ratio of pharmacy technician was very high related shortage of pharmacists. The analysis of pharmacy technician workforces at PHCs is highly recommended annually in Saudi Arabia.
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Objective: To explore the workforce of pharmacy technician at Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals over the past 12 years (2006–2017) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 12 years (2006–2017) of MOH pharmacy technician workforce at hospital practice. All data were derived from MOH’s Statistical Year Books and any missing appropriate information of pharmacy technician workforce was estimated through allied healthcare professional’s data at each region including gender or nationality. It included pharmacy technician and excluded all types of pharmacists or clinical pharmacist’s workforces at MOH hospital setting. All calculations were based on MOH workforce standards of hospitals. All calculations were performed using Microsoft Excel version 10. Results: A total of 8373 pharmacy technicians were employed with 6620 (79.06 %) and 1623 (19.38%) pharmacy technicians employed at various hospitals and primary healthcare centers, respectively; while in the medical administration sectors was 130 (1.55 %). The total number of pharmacy technicians were 4578 (range: 2899–6620). The average number of pharmacy technicians working per bed per region of the hospital was 0.25 (range: 0.08–1.66). The average number of pharmacy technicians per pharmacist per region was 3.04 (range: 2.00–5.57) annually. The average number of male pharmacy technicians was 195 (85.15%) (range: 114–285), whereas the number of female technicians was 34 (14.84%) (range: 21–46). An estimated average number of 211 (92.14%) were Saudi nationals per region (range: 104–319), whereas an average of 18 (7.86%) were non-Saudi individuals (range: 10–41). Conclusion: There are more number of pharmacy technicians working at MOH hospitals. The majority of them were Saudi nationals and there were more males than that of female technicians. The ratio of pharmacist to technician was acceptable. The annual assessment of pharmacy technician workforce in the MOH healthcare institutions is required in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Objectives: To explore the workforce of pharmacy technician at Ministry of Health (MOH) institutions over the past twelve years (2006-2017) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: It is a retrospective analysis of twelve years (2006-2017) of Ministry of Health pharmacy technician workforce at hospital practice. All data derived from the Ministry of Health Statistical Year Books and any missing appropriate information about pharmacy technician workforce, that’s will be estimated through allied healthcare professional’s data in each region including gender or nationality. It included pharmacy technician and exclude all types of pharmacists or clinical pharmacist’s workforces at MOH hospital and Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs) settings. All calculations were based on MOH workforce standards of hospitals and PHCs. All calculation was done using Microsoft Excel version ten. Results: The total number of pharmacy technician in all sectors, hospitals, primary healthcare centers and medical affairs administration increased from 4,289 to 8,373 over twelve years to 1.96-fold increments (2006- 2017). The number of Saudi pharmacy technician increased from 3,064 to 8,061 to 2.63-fold increments while non-Saudi pharmacy technician decreased from 1,225 to 312 to 3.92-fold reductions. The rate of pharmacy technician to pharmacist decreased from 6.7 to 2.2 to 3.05-fold ratio reductions while the pharmacy technician per 10,000 population increased from 2.67 to 4.29 to 1.61-fold incremental ratio over the past twelve years. Conclusion: The pharmacy technician worked at the Ministry of Health institutions increased over the past twelve years. The Saudi pharmacy technician was increased with reduction of non-Saudi nationality. The male gender more than female. The ratio of pharmacy technician to pharmacist was reduced by time. The pharmacy technician workforces needed to explore at all healthcare institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Resumo São escassos artigos científicos brasileiros que discutam a importância do trabalho do técnico em farmácia em assistência direta ao paciente. Este trabalho descreve uma experiência de capacitação de técnicos de farmácia para dispensação de medicamentos. Trata-se de estudo descritivo, transversal, realizado na atenção primária à saúde. Os técnicos foram capacitados pelo farmacêutico a orientar os pacientes no momento da dispensação e para triar casos que necessitavam atendimento farmacêutico. A identificação dos problemas foi feita por meio da observação da prescrição, data de retorno para dispensação ou do questionamento direto ao paciente. Foram elaborados fluxos de identificação de problemas e de intervenção, após os quais os técnicos identificaram 3.944 problemas, sendo os mais comuns: uso de medicamento em quantidade inferior à prescrita (26%) e não adesão ao tratamento farmacológico (25%). Os resultados demonstram a importância da capacitação dos técnicos na dispensação de medicamentos, fazendo deles um aliado do farmacêutico no processo de identificação e resolução de problemas relacionados a medicamentos, além de torná-los membros ativos do processo de cuidado no sistema de saúde pública.
Abstract Few Brazilian articles discuss the importance of pharmacy technicians who offer direct assistance to patients. This paper describes an experience of the training of pharmacy technicians in drug dispensing. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in the primary healthcare setting. The technicians were trained by the pharmacist to advise patients at the time of drug dispensing and to screen cases that needed pharmaceutical consultation. Problems were identified by verifying the prescription and return date for dispensing the medication as well as through direct questioning of the patients. Flowcharts for problem identification and intervention were created for use by the technicians. After training, pharmacy technicians identified 3944 problems, the most common of which were the use of a lower dosage than that prescribed (26%) and non-adherence to pharmacological treatment. The findings of the present study demonstrate the importance of training pharmacy technicians with regard to dispensing drugs so that they can assist pharmacists in the process of identifying and solving drug-related problems, thereby making them active members of the care process in the public health system.