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Investigating management approaches in Erbil Province community pharmacies: a qualitative study on challenges and effective practices: A Qualitative Study on Challenges and Effective Practices

A Qualitative Study on Challenges and Effective Practices

Rawzan Mahmood Abdullah
Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Kemal M. Surji
Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rawzan Mahmood Abdullah , Kemal M. Surji (Author)

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Abstract

Background and Objective: Pharmacies in Erbil Province face numerous challenges, compromising their ability to provide patient-centered, safe, and effective care. This study aimed to identify these challenges in depth and propose evidence-based strategies from developed countries to overcome them.

Methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 pharmacy managers operating in Erbil's urban, semi-urban, and rural areas, using a qualitative, phenomenological approach. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and included managers of both independent and chain pharmacies. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework, with six themes structured deductively and subthemes emerging inductively from the data.

Results: Six main themes (regulatory compliance, supply chain and inventory management, human resource management, patient service and care, financial viability, and technology adoption) were identified. Participants reported outdated (n=18) and inconsistent regulations (n=13), improper control of drug pricing (n=27) and drug storage (n=10), oversaturation of the pharmacy market (n=6), reliance on manual inventory systems (n=22), shortage of qualified professionals (n=25), high staff turnover (n=14), lack of structured training (n=20), limited patient consultation services (n=19), poor financial tracking (n=19), and low utilization and availability of digital tools (n=25). These challenges were experienced similarly across all pharmacy settings.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for comprehensive reform in the Erbil pharmacy sector. Although the challenges are significant, they align with recognized worldwide patterns, suggesting that effective strategies could be adapted to improve pharmacy operations, professional standards, and healthcare outcomes in the region.

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How to Cite
Mahmood Abdullah , R., & M. Surji, K. . (2026). Investigating management approaches in Erbil Province community pharmacies: a qualitative study on challenges and effective practices: A Qualitative Study on Challenges and Effective Practices. Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (ZJMS), 792–807. https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2026.057

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