Challenges in pediatric medicine access in Albania: insights from community Pharmacists

Background: Medicines are crucial for strengthening health systems and building patient confidence. Yet, there is a global shortage of age-appropriate pediatric formulations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Pharmacists are vital in ensuring pediatric medicines' availability and proper use. Research has often overlooked pediatric needs, resulting in significant gaps in understanding the accessibility of medicines for children. This research therefore sought to identify the barriers and facilitators to accessing pediatric medicines from the perspective of community pharmacists in Albania. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in March 2024 with 18 members of the Albanian Order of Pharmacists, working in the six most populated cities in Albania. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the Pharmaceutical Value Chain framework. Results: Barriers to accessing pediatric medicines were evident in almost all domains of the Pharmaceutical Value Chain framework except for health information technology, a domain not referred to by participants. Issues addressed included a limited number of items on the reimbursement list for different child-specific diagnoses and occasional stock-outs of child-appropriate medicines. Open communication channels with other healthcare professionals and patient education were identified as key facilitators in improving access to pediatric medicines. Conclusion: This is the first study to examine pediatric medicine access in Albania from the viewpoint of community pharmacists. The findings provide context-specific insights that can inform policy reforms and health system strategies to improve the equitable availability of pediatric medicines.