Pharmacy Workload and Workforce Requirements at MOH Primary Health Care Center during Ten years Mass Gathering Hajj (2006-2015) in Makah Region, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To explore the pharmaceutical care workload analysis and workforce requirements at Ministry of Health Primary health care centers during mass gathering Hajj ten years (2006 2015), Saudi Arabia. Methods: It is a retrospective study of ten years (2006-2015) in primary health care center (PCC) about pharmacies workload during mass gathering Hajj period. The duration of workload collection was 15 days. The pharmacist and pharmacy technicians provide pharmaceutical care to all patients either Pilgrim or not Pilgrim at Makah region. It included Mona holy places hospitals; Arafat holy places hospitals, and Makah city. The workforce requirements calculated based on MOH workforce standards of primary health care center and the workload drives as central pharmacy services, patient specific pharmacy activities, and general administration specific pharmacy activities. Results: The total number of pilgrims (1,952,817 3,161,573) with average (2,445,208). The average number PCC prescription at holy places were (275,820) and (138,388.4) from Makah city. The average number of pharmacist needed (24.92 FTE) per each PCC at holy places, and (27.97 FTE) per each PCC at Makah city. The average number of pharmacist based on MOH standards at Makkah region PCC was (678.50 FTE) while the mean number pharmacist needed based on workload was (3,451.72 FTE) at Makkah region. It is (5.17 fold) more incremental than MOH pharmacist workforce standards. Conclusion: The pharmacy workload analysis at primary health care center reflected the real demand for pharmacists. Clinical pharmacy activities at PCC missed with emphasis on patient-specific clinical pharmacy. Targeting to change pharmacy workforces improves pharmacy services provided to all pilgrims in Makkah region, Saudi Arabia.