Primary Care Center Pharmacist’s Workforce in Eleven-Year 2006-2016 at Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: The workforce of the pharmacist is one the elements of pharmacy strategic plan in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study is to explore primary care centers pharmacist workforce in eleven years (2006-2016) at Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia. Methods: It is a retrospective analysis of eleven years (2006-2016) of MOH primary healthcare center (PCC) pharmacist workforce. All data were derived from Ministry of Health Statistical Year Books. It included a pharmacist or clinical pharmacist’s workforces at MOH primary healthcare centers. All calculations were based on MOH workforce standards of PCC. All calculations were done using Microsoft Excel version ten. The calculations were per each region for a total twenty-one regions; the primary health care center s distribution numbers, the pharmacist distribution numbers, the ratio of pharmacist per primary healthcare center, the gender distribution of Pharmacist per region, the gender distribution of Saudi Pharmacist per each region across Saudi Arabia. Result: The total numbers of hospitals were 276 hospitals, 2,325 primary care centers, and 20 administration regions. The total numbers of pharmacist were 3,520 distributed at hospital 2,760 (78.41 %), at primary care centers 430 (12.2 %) while administration regions 330 (9.37 %). The average numbers of primary care centers were (1,961.9) with a range number of (1,925-2,325), and the total number was (2,325). The average numbers of primary care center pharmacists were (10.29) with a range number of (131-430), and the total number was (430). The average gender distribution of all primary care center pharmacists included male 210.85 (50.85%) and female 203.83 (49.15%). The average nationality distributions of all primary care center pharmacists were Saudi 360 (97.43%) and non-Saudi 51.55 (2.57%). Conclusion: There is very high demand and a shortage of hospital and primary care center pharmacist at Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia. Pharmacy human resources plan should be implemented and necessary updating of pharmacist recruitment standards for hospital and primary care centers are important. Key words: Primary care center, Pharmacist, Workforce, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.