Pharmacist Prescribing in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study on Readiness, Barriers, and Policy Implications for Healthcare Reform

Introduction: Pharmacist prescribing is globally recognized as a way to optimize healthcare delivery, yet it remains underdeveloped in Saudi Arabia due to the absence of a formal legal framework. This study aimed to assess pharmacists’ readiness to adopt prescribing roles, identify systemic barriers, and determine training needs to inform potential policy reforms. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 206 registered pharmacists in Saudi Arabia was conducted between January and July 2018 using a validated electronic questionnaire. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, t tests, and ANOVA to evaluate demographics, prescribing perceptions, and perceived barriers. Results: Most pharmacists (87.4%) supported prescribing rights, conditional upon postgraduate training (90.8%) and competency exams (70.9%). Key barriers included physician resistance (77.7%), inadequate clinical training (66.0%), and the lack of legal frameworks. Female pharmacists reported significantly higher risk sensitivity toward prescribing responsibilities (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Saudi pharmacists demonstrate a readiness to prescribe, but legislative reform, advanced clinical training, and interprofessional collaboration are needed. Policy changes aligned with successful international models could improve patient access and healthcare sustainability. Despite broad enthusiasm, the study’s generalizability is limited by a low response rate (4%); further research with a larger, more representative sample is needed.