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Alkhudair N, Howaidi J, Alnuhait M, Alshamrani M, Khan M, Alharbi A, Alnajjar F, Bajnaid E, Almodaheem H, Alhowimel M, Alzahrani A, Khardaly A, Alnahedh M, Elsoudi H, Alabdulkareem H, Alrashidan A, Alzahrani M, Alrajhi A. Revitalizing oncology medications access in Saudi Arabia: Current challenges and recommendations by the Saudi Oncology Pharmacy Assembly. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2024:10781552241232697. [PMID: 38377985 DOI: 10.1177/10781552241232697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer care is posing immense challenges to healthcare systems globally. Advances in screening, monitoring, and treating cancer improved patient outcomes and survival rates yet amplified the disease burden. Multiple barriers might impede early access to innovative therapies. We thoroughly examined the current challenges in oncology medication access in Saudi Arabia and provided consensus recommendations to revitalize the process. METHODS A focus group discussion was conducted. Expert healthcare providers (pharmacists and physicians) were invited to participate based on prespecified criteria. The research team conducted a qualitative analysis of the discussion to identify themes and formulate recommendations. RESULTS Fourteen experts were equally distributed into two groups, limiting the number in each group to 7. Pharmacists were 12 (∼86%), and physicians were 2 (∼14%). Ten were practicing in governmental hospitals, four representing different sectors; regulatory bodies, including Ministry of Health, National Unified Procurement Company, and Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Five themes were identified: national cancer burden, local data availability, pharmacoeconomic evaluation, patients reported outcomes, administration, and procurement. Consensus recommendations were formulated to optimize the formulary management process, enabling informed decision-making and facilitating early medication access for cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS The formulary management process can be enhanced by addressing the national cancer burden, promoting local data availability, conducting pharmacoeconomic evaluations, focusing on patient outcomes, and improving administration and procurement procedures. Implementing these recommendations can improve access to oncology medications and improve patient care outcomes in Saudi Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Alkhudair
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jude Howaidi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alnuhait
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majed Alshamrani
- Pharmaceutical Care Services, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mansour Khan
- Pharmaceutical Care Services, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Atika Alharbi
- Pharmaceutical Care Services, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fouad Alnajjar
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eshtyag Bajnaid
- Pharmaceutical Care Services Administration, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hajer Almodaheem
- Deputyship of Therapeutic Affairs, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mansour Alhowimel
- Unified Procurement, National Unified Procurement Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Alzahrani
- Medical Oncology Department, Comprehensive Cancer Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amr Khardaly
- Deputyship of Therapeutic Affairs, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alnahedh
- Pharmaceutical Care Division, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamdi Elsoudi
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, Pharmaceutical Care Services Administration, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hana Alabdulkareem
- Drug Policy and Economic Center, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Doctoral School of Applied Informatics and Applied Mathematics, Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ahmed Alrashidan
- Corporate pharmaceutical planning, logistic & contracts management, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Musa Alzahrani
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Alrajhi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, AlFaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Alnuhait M, Alharbi A, Alanizi A, Alkhudair N, Alshamrani M, Bajnaid E, Alrajhi A, Alnajjar F, Khardaly A. Implementing Oncology Pharmacy Boot Camp for Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Students at a Regional Conference in Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2023; 15:e34780. [PMID: 36909037 PMCID: PMC10005846 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.34780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Upon graduation, pharmacy students are expected to possess a diverse array of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. A subject-specific boot camp may support bridging the gap between the information and skills gained during clerkships, courses required for pharmacy school after graduation, and skills needed for the job market, as well as the gap between pharmacy school and residency. This research aimed to determine whether an integrated boot camp increased Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) student self-confidence and enhanced students' knowledge in oncology pharmacy. Method APPE students who attended the annual meeting of the Saudi Oncology Pharmacy Assembly (SOPA)/International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP) Regional Conference 2021 were voluntarily enrolled in a three-hour oncology-focused boot camp consisting of interactive lectures. Pre- and post-intervention examinations were used to evaluate student learning outcomes and their experience feedback. Result Of 118 students who attended the boot camp, 80 students who met the criteria were included in the study. The pre- and post-intervention examinations were completed by the 80 APPE students. The pre-intervention test results (mean: 66%, standard deviation (SD): 16%) increased by 21.5% after the boot camp (mean: 87.5%, SD: 12%, p = 0.001). Students scored better on each of the 10 test questions, with nine questions demonstrating a statistically significant result. Conclusion The results of this research showed that interns who participated in an oncology boot camp had a higher level of knowledge and confidence in applying key oncology concepts. Interns were satisfied with the chance to engage in the activity, and they agreed to adding boot camps to future conferences would be valuable. This research shows that it is possible to hold a transitional boot camp during conferences to better prepare students for their fields of study and increase their participation in oncology conferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Alnuhait
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU
| | - Atika Alharbi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Care Services, King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Jeddah, SAU
| | - Abdalrhman Alanizi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Care, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Nora Alkhudair
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Majed Alshamrani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Care Services, King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Jeddah, SAU
| | - Eshtyag Bajnaid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Care Services, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, SAU
| | - Abdullah Alrajhi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, SAU.,College of Pharmacy, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Fouad Alnajjar
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Amr Khardaly
- Deputyship of Therapeutic Affairs, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU
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Alkhudair N, Alshamrani M, Samarkandi H, Almodaheem H, Alabdulkarim H, Alsaqaaby M, Alnajjar F, Alhashem H, Bakkar M, Bazarbashi S, Alnahedh M, Alfraih F, Alawagi M, Al-jedai A. Cancer Management in Saudi Arabia: Recommendations by the Saudi Oncology HeAlth Economics ExpeRt GrouP (SHARP). Saudi Pharm J 2021; 29:115-120. [PMID: 33679175 PMCID: PMC7910134 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is widely recognized as a major global health problem and is estimated to rank as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Saudi Arabia has undergone remarkable socioeconomic development in the past 40 years which has contributed to the increase in cancer incidence. The high costs of new oncology medications in combination with uncertainty of long-term effectiveness and safety outcomes highlight the importance of considering value, in terms of clinical outcomes, relative to cost. We convened a group of experts to discuss key factors impacting the current state of cancer management in Saudi Arabia and to agree on a list of recommendations, with a focus on value-based care, considering evidence, patients, and costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Alkhudair
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majed Alshamrani
- Pharmaceutical Care Services, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hadeel Samarkandi
- Pharmaceutical Care Division, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Alfaisal University, College of Pharmacy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hajer Almodaheem
- Therapeutic Affairs Deputyship, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical Care Services, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hana Alabdulkarim
- Drug Policy and Economic Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Alsaqaaby
- Pharmaceutical Care Division, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fouad Alnajjar
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hashem Alhashem
- Department of Oncology, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Shouki Bazarbashi
- King Abdullah Center of Oncology and Liver Disease, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alnahedh
- Pharmaceutical Care Division, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Feras Alfraih
- King Abdullah Center of Oncology and Liver Disease, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Alawagi
- Pharmaceutical Care Division, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Al-jedai
- Alfaisal University, College of Pharmacy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Therapeutic Affairs Deputyship, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical Care Services, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Corresponding author at: Therapeutic Affairs Deputyship, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical Care Services, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Altwairgi A, Alnajjar F, Alhussain H, Alsaeed E, Balbaid A, Aldandan S, Orz Y, Lary A, Alghareeb W, Alsharm A. Phase II study of atorvastatin in combination with radiotherapy and temozolomide in patients with glioblastoma (ART): Final analysis report. Ann Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdz419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Altwairgi A, Alghareeb W, Alnajjar F, Alsaeed E, Balbaid A, Alhussain H, Aldanan S, Orz Y, Lari A, Alsharm A. Phase II study of atorvastatin in combination with radiotherapy and temozolomide In patients with glioblastoma (ART): interim analysis report. Ann Oncol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdw367.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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