Table 5.
Proposed policy solutions to drug shortages by hospital sector.
| Proposed policy solution | Hospital sector | Total (n=120) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOH hospitals (n=29) | MOH-affiliated medical cities (n=38) | Non-MOH hospitals (n=53) | P value | ||
|
| |||||
| Greater legal clarity about the responsibility of drug manufacturers | 14 (48.28) | 11 (28.95) | 19 (35.85) | .262 | 44 (36.67) |
| Comprehensive database, run by the Saudi FDA and the MOH, of all drugs reported to be in shortage | 12 (41.38) | 20 (52.63) | 35 (66.04) | .088 | 67 (55.83) |
| High level investigation into the root causes of drug shortages led by the Saudi FDA | 10 (34.48) | 10 (26.32) | 27 (50.94) | .050 | 47 (39.17) |
| A national annual report on drug shortages by the Saudi FDA | 7 (24.14) | 14 (36.84) | 21 (39.62) | .357 | 42 (35.00) |
Values are number (percentage). MOH= Ministry of Health. Saudi FDA= Saudi Food and Drug Authority.