Investigation of the Service Status of Pharmacists under COVID-19: A Case Study in Yunnan Province, China

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the current status of pharmaceutical care provided by pharmacists in Yunnan province amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This is in line with the province’s pursuit of becoming a (health destination) and the development of a large-scale health industry. The findings may provide insights for enhancing the capacity building of pharmacists in medical institutions in Yunnan province.Material and Methods: A questionnaire titled (Improving the Capacity Building of Hospital Pharmacists under the Epidemic Situation) was designed and distributed to hospital pharmacists. The collected data were analyzed using statistical methods.Results: A total of 50 hospital pharmacists participated in the survey. Approximately 80% of the respondents were employed in tertiary medical and health institutions, and 50% were primary pharmacists or primary drug pharmacists. A significant positive correlation was found between the satisfaction of current salary level, promotion mechanism satisfaction, status environment satisfaction, and status in the hospital (p-value<0.01). A significant negative correlation was found between salary satisfaction (p-value<0.01). The overall mean situation of hospital pharmacists’ perception of a (healthy living destination) was 3.70.Conclusion: The pharmaceutical service capacity building in Yunnan Province remains in a traditional mode, characterized by insufficient matching of professional pharmaceutical personnel, low overall satisfaction with the pharmaceutical service environment, low enthusiasm for pharmaceutical work, lack of relevant understanding, and imperfect policy support. Recommendations include improving the pharmaceutical management system, strengthening capacity building for pharmaceutical services, enhancing training and development of professional talents, establishing a medical insurance incentive mechanism, and reasonably reflecting the value of pharmaceutical services.