Pharmacy practice and its challenges in Yemen

BACKGROUND: Pharmacy practice in Yemen was established in 1875 in Aden. OBJECTIVES: To describe pharmacy practice as it currently exists in Yemen, the challenges the profession faces, and to recommend changes that will improve pharmaceutical care services. METHODS: This study has two parts. Part 1 comprised a literature search performed between May and July 2011 to identify published studies on pharmacy practice in Yemen. Full text papers, abstracts, and reports in Arabic or English between 1970 and 2011 were reviewed. Part 2 consisted of a qualitative study with face-to-face interviews with a representative sample of pharmacists, staff from the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP), and patients. RESULTS: The analysis revealed several issues that plague pharmacy practice in Yemen: Fewer than 10 per cent of pharmacists working in pharmacies and drug stores are graduates of governmentrecognised colleges.Most Yemeni pharmacists are dissatisfied with their work conditions and opportunities.Medicines are expensive and hard to access in Yemen, and counterfeit medicines are a serious problem.Few regulations and standards exist for pharmacists and pharmaceutical care.Pharmaceutical marketing plays an important role in marketing and selling products in Yemen.A dearth of standards, regulations, and laws are hurting pharmacy practice in the country and potentially endangering peoples' lives. CONCLUSION: In order to improve pharmacy practice in Yemen, many changes are needed, including updating the pharmacy curriculum taught, implementing industry standards for pharmacy practice, implementing and reinforcing laws, and integrating pharmacists more fully in the healthcare industry. Additionally, the quality of the pharmacy workforce needs to be improved, and there needs to be increased awareness by the public, physicians, other healthcare professionals, and policy makers about the value of pharmacists.