Drug Shortages in Albania: Pharmacists’ Experiences and Perspectives
Drug shortages are a significant global issue, particularly affecting healthcare systems in resource-limited countries such as Albania. Pharmacists play a critical role in managing these shortages, yet little is known about their experiences and perspectives. This study aims to explore pharmacists’...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Pharmacy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/12/6/166 |
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| author | Delina Xhafaj Sonila Vito Alban Xhafaj |
| author_facet | Delina Xhafaj Sonila Vito Alban Xhafaj |
| author_sort | Delina Xhafaj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Drug shortages are a significant global issue, particularly affecting healthcare systems in resource-limited countries such as Albania. Pharmacists play a critical role in managing these shortages, yet little is known about their experiences and perspectives. This study aims to explore pharmacists’ views on the current drug shortages in Albania, identifying the most affected drug classes, and suggesting potential strategies for mitigating these shortages. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 93 pharmacists across Albania between December 2023 and May 2024. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that addressed the types of drugs experiencing shortages, the causes of these shortages, and pharmacists’ coping strategies. Cardiovascular and central nervous system medications were reported as the most frequently affected, with supply chain disruptions, regulatory hurdles, and low domestic production cited as key contributors. The findings suggest an urgent need for national policy reforms focusing on improving supply chain resilience and boosting the local pharmaceutical production. The pharmacists proposed mitigation strategies, including stricter regulatory oversight, improved communication channels, and increased local production to reduce dependence on imports. These recommendations underscore the study’s contribution to understanding how tailored, pharmacist-informed strategies could strengthen Albania’s healthcare system. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-796db65e7f30471ba064aa761d9aa09b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2226-4787 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmacy |
| spelling | doaj-art-796db65e7f30471ba064aa761d9aa09b2025-08-20T02:57:03ZengMDPI AGPharmacy2226-47872024-11-0112616610.3390/pharmacy12060166Drug Shortages in Albania: Pharmacists’ Experiences and PerspectivesDelina Xhafaj0Sonila Vito1Alban Xhafaj2Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Science, Albanian University, 1001 Tirana, AlbaniaDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Science, Albanian University, 1001 Tirana, AlbaniaDepartment of Data and Digitalization, Intrum S.P.A., 20121 Milan, ItalyDrug shortages are a significant global issue, particularly affecting healthcare systems in resource-limited countries such as Albania. Pharmacists play a critical role in managing these shortages, yet little is known about their experiences and perspectives. This study aims to explore pharmacists’ views on the current drug shortages in Albania, identifying the most affected drug classes, and suggesting potential strategies for mitigating these shortages. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 93 pharmacists across Albania between December 2023 and May 2024. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that addressed the types of drugs experiencing shortages, the causes of these shortages, and pharmacists’ coping strategies. Cardiovascular and central nervous system medications were reported as the most frequently affected, with supply chain disruptions, regulatory hurdles, and low domestic production cited as key contributors. The findings suggest an urgent need for national policy reforms focusing on improving supply chain resilience and boosting the local pharmaceutical production. The pharmacists proposed mitigation strategies, including stricter regulatory oversight, improved communication channels, and increased local production to reduce dependence on imports. These recommendations underscore the study’s contribution to understanding how tailored, pharmacist-informed strategies could strengthen Albania’s healthcare system.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/12/6/166drug shortagespharmacistshealthcaresupply chainAlbania |
| spellingShingle | Delina Xhafaj Sonila Vito Alban Xhafaj Drug Shortages in Albania: Pharmacists’ Experiences and Perspectives Pharmacy drug shortages pharmacists healthcare supply chain Albania |
| title | Drug Shortages in Albania: Pharmacists’ Experiences and Perspectives |
| title_full | Drug Shortages in Albania: Pharmacists’ Experiences and Perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Drug Shortages in Albania: Pharmacists’ Experiences and Perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drug Shortages in Albania: Pharmacists’ Experiences and Perspectives |
| title_short | Drug Shortages in Albania: Pharmacists’ Experiences and Perspectives |
| title_sort | drug shortages in albania pharmacists experiences and perspectives |
| topic | drug shortages pharmacists healthcare supply chain Albania |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/12/6/166 |
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