{
  "abstract": "Background and Importance Hospital pharmacies play a vital role in ensuring continuity of care and maintaining medicine supply during emergencies. On 16 March, a catastrophic nightclub fire that claimed 62 young lives required an immediate and coordinated response from hospital pharmacists in the affected area. The incident exposed gaps in disaster preparedness and highlighted the need for structured planning, rapid decision making, and interprofessional collaboration. Although disaster preparedness has been studied internationally, there are no data on the readiness of hospital pharmacies in our country. This study, conducted by the Association of Hospital Pharmacists (member of EAHP), represents the first national assessment of hospital pharmacy preparedness, providing an evidence base for strengthening system resilience.Aim and Objectives The aim was to evaluate the preparedness of hospital pharmacies for emergencies, crises, and disasters. Specific objectives included assessing the presence of institutional protocols, the availability of critical medicines and medical supplies, and the demographic and organisational characteristics of pharmacies and their staff.Material and Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital pharmacists using a structured 25-item questionnaire covering demographics, hospital type and capacity, pharmacy structure, preparedness protocols, and medicine availability rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive analysis examined respondents by hospital category, position, and preparedness indicators.Results Of 35 pharmacists invited, 27 participated. The mean age was 46 years (median 49) with 22 years of experience. Participants represented general (n=9), university (n=9), clinical (n=5), and specialised hospitals (n=5), mostly with 100–300 beds. Nineteen were heads of pharmacies. Sixteen reported having a preparedness protocol, while eleven did not. Analgesics, antimicrobials, and infusion solutions were adequately stocked, but shortages were noted for intubation supplies (n=4), vasopressors (n=2), antiemetics (n=2), respiratory drugs (n=2), ophthalmological medicines (n=9), and antidotes (n=11).Conclusion and Relevance Hospital pharmacists in our country are experienced but work in institutions with uneven preparedness. The catastrophic fire underscored the urgent need to strengthen disaster response capacity. While essential medicines are generally available, shortages of critical and rarely used drugs remain a key vulnerability. Strengthening hospital pharmacy resilience requires the implementation of standardised protocols, training and coordinated national stockpiling strategies. These measures are essential to ensure a timely, consistent and effective response during future emergencies.Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Hospital Shtip, Hospital Pharmacy, Stip, Republic of North Macedonia"
      ],
      "name": "T Tashkov"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Hospital Shtip, Hospital Pharmacy, Shtip, Republic of North Macedonia"
      ],
      "name": "B Lazarova"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Clinic of Pulmonology and Allergology, Hospital Pharmacy, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia"
      ],
      "name": "O Krstic Nakovska"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Macedonian Agency for Drug and Medical Devices, Department of Pharmacy, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia"
      ],
      "name": "M Kovaceva"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Pharmacy- Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia"
      ],
      "name": "M Simonoska Crcarevska"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Goce Delcev University- 2000 Stip- Republic of North Macedonia, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Stip, Republic of North Macedonia"
      ],
      "name": "D Miceva"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Pharmacy- Ss. Cyril Amd Methodius University, Department of Pharmacoinformatics, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia"
      ],
      "name": "Z Naumovska"
    }
  ],
  "title": "2SPD-010 Hospital pharmacy preparedness for emergencies and disasters: lessons from a national evaluation following a major crisis",
  "uid": "e6a6882a-ddb3-50b4-a597-6ff72f397d71"
}