National Analysis of Network Drug Information Centers: Education, Training and related Cost at Ministry of Health Hospitals in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To explore analysis of network Drug Information Education and training services with the related cost at Ministry of Health (MOH) institutions. Methods: This is a simulation of a 2-months crosssectional survey of all drug information centers at MOH Hospitals. Any drug opened and provided services to health care professionals and the public participated in the questionnaire. All type of drug information centers national, regional or local at healthcare institutions including in the survey. All type of hospitals or primary care centers included in the survey (public, pediatric, maternity, psychiatry) included in the study. The survey consisted of two part. Demographics data and questions about education and training activity of drug information centers. It included education and training programs and activities for pharmacy staff and healthcare professional and training services for pharmacy student, pharmacy technician students and pharmacy residency programs with related cost analysis. All analysis done by using an electronic Survey Monkey system. Results: The survey distributed to sixty drug information centers with the total responded forty-six center, the response rate was 76.66 %. The majority of hospitals 11 (23.9%) with (100-199) and 11 (23.9%) with (200-299 beds). In the pharmacy training programs, the highest workload and cost implicated was Pharm. D or Master Pharmacist on job training programs (1.34 FTE) with average daily cost was (170.12 USD). The highest daily workload and cost of education and training activities delivered to the healthcare professional was short education courses 1-5 days (0.72 FTE) with average daily cost was (91.53 USD). The highest daily workload and cost of education and training activities delivered by Drug Information Centers to Pharmacy staff was specialized Pharmacist Residency Program needed (6.56 FTE) with average daily cost was (832.13 USD). The highest workload and cost of education and training activities of drug information staff was specialized Pharmacist Residency Program needed (3.42 FTE) with average daily cost was (433.89 USD). Conclusion: One-third of the network drug information centers had education and training services despite the deficiency of the staff. Targeting of expanding the training services are highly recommended to cover the demand for hospital services. Key words: Network, Drug Information centers, Education, Training, Cost, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.