Pharmacovigilance and Medication Safety: Collaborative Approaches Between Pharmacy and Nursing in Saudi Arabia's Transforming Healthcare System
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Abstract
Saudi Arabia's healthcare system is undergoing a significant transformation as part of the country's Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of healthcare services. Pharmacovigilance and medication safety are critical components of this transformation, requiring collaborative approaches between pharmacy and nursing professionals. This systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence on the current state, challenges, and opportunities of pharmacovigilance and medication safety practices in Saudi Arabia, and the role of interprofessional collaboration between pharmacy and nursing in supporting the healthcare transformation goals. A comprehensive search of multiple databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2010 and 2024. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using standardized tools. The findings highlight the gaps and barriers in pharmacovigilance and medication safety practices in Saudi Arabia, such as underreporting of adverse drug reactions, limited knowledge and skills among healthcare professionals, lack of standardized protocols and systems, and cultural and communication challenges. The review also identifies the key enablers and strategies for enhancing pharmacovigilance and medication safety, such as education and training, technology adoption, regulatory support, and patient engagement. The study emphasizes the importance of interprofessional collaboration between pharmacy and nursing in promoting a culture of safety, improving medication management processes, and optimizing patient outcomes. The findings provide recommendations for policy, practice, and research to strengthen the pharmacovigilance and medication safety infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, and to leverage the expertise and partnership of pharmacy and nursing professionals in driving the healthcare transformation.