The antibiotic procurement saga: a long-neglected stewardship target to combat antimicrobial resistance in Pakistan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Consistent and timely access to antibiotics is a hallmark of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) and can be achieved through good procurement practices. However, flawed procurement modules result in poor antibiotic supply management within health facilities of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Pakistan, exacerbating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study seeks to understand hospital pharmacists' perspectives on the antibiotic procurement process, its efficiency in ensuring consistent access to antibiotics, and the role of clinical pharmacists in rational procurement.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews with 24 purposively selected hospital pharmacists from secondary healthcare facilities in Punjab, Pakistan, were conducted utilizing a q

SUBMITTER: Afzal S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11806573 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature