The Role of Clinical Pharmacy in Chronic Disease Management in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Chronic diseases represent a substantial healthcare burden in Saudi Arabia, with diabetes affecting approximately 24% and hypertension affecting approximately 26% of the adult population. Clinical pharmacy services have emerged as essential components of comprehensive chronic disease management within Saudi healthcare settings. This narrative review examines the evolving role of clinical pharmacists in managing chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia, synthesizing evidence from peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025. The review identifies significant contributions of pharmacist-led interventions across diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic conditions. Evidence demonstrates that clinical pharmacist interventions achieve meaningful clinical outcomes, including hemoglobin A1c reductions of 1.2 to 1.78 percentage points in diabetes management, time in therapeutic range improvements from 52% to 87% in anticoagulation clinics, and physician acceptance rates of pharmacist recommendations exceeding 90% in most settings. Drug-related problem identification and resolution remain core pharmacist activities, with dosing errors comprising 25%–77% of interventions across healthcare facilities. Despite the substantial progress, challenges persist, including workforce shortages, limited interprofessional collaboration frameworks, and variable professional recognition. Saudi Vision 2030’s Health Sector Transformation Program provides a strategic impetus for expanding clinical pharmacy services, with a projected demand for approximately 12,000 clinical pharmacists by 2030. This review highlights the evidence base supporting clinical pharmacy integration into chronic disease care pathways and identifies priorities for future practice development and research in Saudi Arabia.