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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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