Background: In Thailand, pharmacists are responsible for all activities to ensure access to medicines throughout pharmaceutical supply chain. Competency framework (CF) is an important guidance for professional development and workforce planning. Objective: This study aimed to explore needs for pharmacy services in pharmaceutical supply chain and competencies of pharmacists to serve those needs. It was the first step for developing evidence-based pharmacy CF within the context of Thailand in 2026. Methods: A qualitative method using in-depth interviews to gain rich data from practitioners and leaders in all area of practices. 99 key informants from 56 workplaces in Thailand were interviewed during January and March 2016. Data was transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was used. Competencies were extracted, followed by several rounds of group discussion among team members to develop an initial framework. The competencies and CF were presented, and recommendations were gained from professional leaders for refining the findings. Results: The key informants agreed that pharmacist’s works and responsibilities have gradually been drifted to support changes in healthcare and pharmaceutical systems. The upcoming pharmaceutical services call for higher standards of practice, larger number of personnel, and skillful pharmacists who have strong foundation in pharmaceutical knowledge as well as an ability to integrate knowledge into practices. Two sets of CFs were established. The general CF comprises five core domains: product focus, patient focus, healthcare system focus, community focus, and personal focus for self-improvement. These general competencies allow practitioners to perform basic professional tasks, including providing information, dispensing, and compounding. The service-specific competency is the integration of general competencies tailored into specific area of practice. Conclusions: Regarding the professional goal to evolve pharmacists from generalists to specialists for providing higher quality of professional services, the pharmacists are required to demonstrate general competencies and service-specific competencies. The findings serve as the need-based evidence for developing a national CF for pharmacists in Thailand.

Purpose: To serve the higher demands of pharmaceutical services, pharmacy education in Thailand has shifted from 5-year BPharm program to 6-year PharmD program with two specialization tracks: pharmaceutical care (PC) and industrial pharmacy (IP). This study aimed to compare the perceptions regarding professional competencies, pharmacy profession, and planned workplace between graduates with 5-year BPharm and 6-year PharmD and between those with PC and IP specialty. Methods: A cross-sectional national survey using a paper–pencil self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all new graduates attending the pharmacy licensure examination in March 2015. Results: Of all 1,937 questionnaires distributed, 1,744 were returned and completed (90% response rate). Pharmacy graduates rated highest on their competencies in professional ethics, followed by PC services and system management. They rated low confidence in medication selection procurement and pharmaceutical industry competencies. The 6-year PharmD graduates showed higher confidence in ethics and professional pride than the 5-year BPharm graduates. Graduates with PC specialty rated higher perceived competency in PC, system management, primary care, and consumer protection domains, while the IP graduates were superior in IP and medication selection and procurement domains, and most graduates (PC and IP) intended to work mainly in a hospital or a community pharmacy. Hospital was preferred for the PC graduates, and the IP graduates were more likely to work in pharmaceutical industry, regulation and consumer protection, sales and marketing, and academia. Conclusion: With some gaps still to be filled, the transition from 5-year BPharm to 6-year PharmD program with specialty tracks gave extra confidence to graduates in their specialty competencies and professional pride, leading to differences in preferred workplace. The findings of this study reflect that Thai pharmacy education continues to adjust to the needs of the society and the changing health care environments. Longitudinal monitoring to observe this transition is needed for both curriculum adjustment and competency of the graduates.

Background: Thai pharmacists' roles have increasingly shifted to a system-focused role in providing public health services. A competency framework in this area is essential to workforce development. Objective: This study aimed to summarize and synthesize the literature on pharmaceutical public health competencies of Thai pharmacists. Methods: The Scopus, MEDLINE, and Web of Science (Clarivate) databases were searched. The search criteria included “public health”, “health promotion”, “primary care”, “community pharmacy”, “pharmacy” and “pharmacist”. Documents published in English and Thai between January 2011 and December 2020 were also examined. Unpublished documents were included. A 3-step inductive coding technique was used to develop the competency framework. To validate the findings, a 2-round, modified Delphi method was employed with 20 Thai pharmaceutical specialists between August 2022 and January 2023. The Scale-level Content Validity Index (S-CVI) was used to assess validity. Results: The database search yielded 1429 articles. Fifty-seven articles were selected. The analysis identified 5 competency domains. The domains, along with their related competency elements and behavioral statements, were provided for expert assessment. The S-CVI scores in the first and second rounds were 0.78 and 0.93, respectively. The terminology and categories of competencies have been improved. This outcome resulted in a pharmaceutical public health competency framework for Thai pharmacists. The framework consists of 5 competency domains: 1) individual and family health promotion (3 competency elements with 10 behavioral statements), 2) community empowerment for well-being communities (6 competency elements with 23 behavioral statements), 3) information management and evidence-based practice (3 competency elements with 10 behavioral statements), 4) communication for health promotion (3 competency elements with 6 behavioral statements), and 5) pharmacoepidemiology and support for public health emergencies and epidemics (2 competency elements with 5 behavioral statements). Conclusion: Pharmaceutical public health competencies for Thai pharmacists were developed through extensive literature review and expert consultation.

Lack of access to child-appropriate medicines results in off-label use. This study aimed to explore medicine management for paediatric patients and to highlight the challenges of the healthcare system under the universal health coverage of Thailand. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 healthcare practitioners working in the public hospital network of Chiang Mai province from February to September 2020. Participants were asked about their experiences in managing the medicine supply for children. Findings revealed that paediatric patients had limited access to age-appropriate medicines. Children’s medicines are rarely selected for inclusion into hospital formularies because of constraining regulations and limited budgets. Additionally, child-appropriate formulations are unavailable on the market. Pharmaceutical compounding is unavoidable. Prepared products are provided weekly or monthly because of product stability concerns. Often, tablets are dispensed, and caregivers are instructed to cut up a tablet and disperse it in syrup in order to obtain a smaller dose in a dosage form appropriate for children to use at home. Without systematic support, access to safe and quality medicines for children is limited.

Objective: Regardless of effective harm reduction services (HRS) in Thanyarak Hospital, difficulties exist while implementing them in community hospitals. This study aimed to investigate the complexities of HRS implementation in two community hospitals in Mae Hong Son. Methods: Phase 1, in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 participants to investigate the complexity of HRS dissemination. An interview guide was developed from the seven domains of the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability framework, and thematic analysis was used. Phase 2 involved two rounds of a Delphi technique with 17 experts to evaluate the HRS’s complexity level (complex, complicated, and simple). Results: Although patients were highly satisfied with HRS, implementing it in community hospitals was complex. Complex issues included: complexity in opioid addiction caused by a variety of factors; understanding social contexts and cooperating of communities and agencies outside required health sectors; and emerging of unintended consequences. Complicated issues included resources and specialized knowledge required; concerns of staff’s competencies and readiness in re-arranging regular services for HRS. Conclusion: The HRS operators should understand that they are working on complex issues. Engaging a broader system and preparing for unexpected events will boost the likelihood of success in the transfer of HRS to other settings.

Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is a harm reduction-based approach that has been part of national policies since 2018. Despite its inception, MMT provision faces challenges, particularly in North Thailand, where opioid use disorders are the most prevalent. This study assessed MMT provisions in terms of system input, performance, and output in all 147 public hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health in Northern Thailand. This cross-sectional study employed an online questionnaire based on the World Health Organization’s six building blocks and the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework. Northern Thailand data collection spanned from September 1, 2022, to February 1, 2023. The results revealed that ninety-eight hospitals (66.70%) responded. Only 37.76% actively provided MMT, 4.08% discontinued it, and 58.16% did not offer it. In areas where opioid overuse disorder is reported, MMT is available in 70.59% of the hospitals. The strong system governance and value proposition of MMT in hospitals with MMT services helped 78.49% of patients with opioid use disorder access services and maintained a one-year retention rate of 71.35%. Though patients with MMT services had a high retention rate, gaps still existed such as a lack of staff and training, limited data collection, and insufficient collaboration with stakeholders to expand the referral capacity. Inactive and pending hospitals lacked an MMT service policy, hindering service launches. According to the findings, the scaling up of MMT services still faces challenges, including the fact that most hospitals do not offer these services and even those that do often lack staff, training, and resources. Support for MMT services must be tailored to the specific needs and contexts of different hospitals.