Abstract
Purpose: To explore the barriers to the practice of pharmacy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).Methods: In a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study, 50 questionnaires were distributed torandomly selected pharmacies in Dubai. The questionnaire contained information for collecting data on demographic data, technical-related information, and barriers to optimized pharmaceutical services.Results: A total of 31 of the 50 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 62 percent. Of these, 20 (65 %) were male, 25 (81 %) holding bachelor degree, and almost three quarters 23 (74 %) were Indian and had their bachelor degree in India. More than half (n = 18, 59 %) reported that they functioned as pharmacists-in-charge and dispense more than 100 prescriptions in 1 business week during the study period. Enhanced pharmacy services offered by pharmacists under investigation were minimal for drug outcomes monitoring (9.68 %), counseling in hyperlipidaemia (6.45 %), and hypertension (9.68 %). A high proportion of pharmacists studied agreed that pharmacists lack customers' recognition in Dubai (54.8 %) and receive inadequate salary (67.8 %), and that pharmacy practice in Dubai is business-oriented (74.2 %). Nearly all the pharmacists (93.5 %) agreed that lack of sales bonus and high running costs are major barriers to optimized pharmacy services in Dubai.Conclusion: This pilot study gives some insight into the impediments community pharmacists in Dubai face while delivering pharmacy services to patients. These findings can be used to promote discussion in the profession and with stakeholders about the future role of the community pharmacist in patient care in UAE.Keywords: Barriers; Community pharmacy; Pharmacy practice; United Arab Emirates, Drug outcomes monitoring, Counseling
Highlights
Over the last two decades pharmacists’ role has transformed from product orientation services to patient centered services in many parts of the world [1,2,3]
The number of pharmacies is rapidly growing in the country due to higher demand of healthcare services caused by fast population growth from both United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals and expatriates in addition to the development of many new civilized towns and cities which required availability of advanced healthcare services
The pharmacist in charge was employed on a full time basis in more than half 18 (58.1 %) pharmacies included in the study
Summary
Over the last two decades pharmacists’ role has transformed from product orientation services to patient centered services in many parts of the world [1,2,3]. There are many barriers which restrict the efficient delivery of pharmaceutical services in a community pharmacy. Community pharmacists have an important role of healthcare delivery because of their location within communities which made them close to patients and even they are often the first respondents in healthcare system [4]. There are nearly 2000 private pharmaceutical organizations across the UAE which are staffed by pharmacists and assistant pharmacists from over 20 countries [6,7]. The number of pharmacies is rapidly growing in the country due to higher demand of healthcare services caused by fast population growth from both UAE nationals and expatriates in addition to the development of many new civilized towns and cities which required availability of advanced healthcare services. Newer statistics stated that the number of newly registered pharmacists was about 300 every year between the years 2005 till 2010 [7]
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