Assessment of sustainability standards implementation in hospital pharmaceutical departments and its impact on healthcare services efficiency

Abstract

This study examined the actual implementation of sustainability standards—environmental, economic, social, and operational—in pharmaceutical departments of public hospitals and healthcare centers in Al-Khums, Libya, and how this affects healthcare service efficiency. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, a validated questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of 51 pharmaceutical practitioners (19.5% response rate), of whom 82.4% were female and 70.6% held a Bachelor's degree. Results showed strong professional and ethical commitment among practitioners, particularly in patient safety standards and rational pharmaceutical counseling, along with good environmental performance in safely disposing of expired medications. However, the economic dimension lacked institutional maturity in digital inventory planning and cost monitoring—a critical weakness, since pharmaceutical spending typically represents 20–30% of total hospital budgets in developing countries. The study also revealed a sharp knowledge gap in sustainability concepts, with 76.5% of practitioners having received no specialized training in the field. Statistical analysis confirmed that specialized training was the most influential factor, with the multiple linear regression model explaining 38% of the variance in institutional sustainability implementation. The study concludes that limited awareness, budgetary constraints, and centralized distribution of near-expiry medications are the main institutional barriers, highlighting the urgent need for investment in capacity building and digital supply chain transformation.