Providing Indicators for Monitoring the Pharmaceutical System in Terms of Scientific/Technological Progresses and Self-Sufficiency; [هیاراییاهصخاشیاربنالکدصرماظنیيورادیاهتفرشيپ رظن زا،یملعیروانفویيافکدوخ] Publisher

Summary: How should pharmaceutical self-sufficiency be tracked? An expert-led study proposes indicators spanning research, technology and production to inform policy choices. #PharmaPolicy #HealthSystems

Jouyban A ; Moghimi H ; Yousefi N ; Shayanfar A ; Kebriaeizadeh A ; Salamzadeh J ; Ezati E ; Jalalzadeh S
Source: Medical Journal of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Published:2026

Abstract

Background. In this study, some indices were proposed for monitoring research, technology progreses, and pharmaceutical self-sufficiency. Methods. Initial indicators were extracted from the literature and reviewed by an expert group. In the next stage, opinions were collected and analyzed from a larger number of experts through an online questionnaire. Experts responding to this questionnaire were selected using a purposive sampling method in a quota manner from different areas of the pharmaceutical system using snowball sampling. In this questionnaire, the indicators extracted from the sources were scored and prioritized by the experts. Finally, the indicators with high scores were reviewed and approved by an expert group. Results. Based on the results of the literature review and the survey of Iranian pharmaceutical experts, 12 global indices (4 indicators for each domain) were extracted to examine the status of pharmaceutical research, technology, and self-sufficiency. Then, implementation strategies were proposed for the annual monitoring of the national pharmaceutical system. The expert human resource index received the highest score and the number of Iranian papers indexed under the “Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics” subject of Scopus received the lowest score. Conclusion. The proposed indicators in this study, if reliable data is available, can lead to the provision of a series of numerical indicators for global monitoring of the national pharmaceutical system. Content analysis of these findings within an expert group to validate these findings and guide the pharmaceutical system and national policymaking can be considered a complement to quantitative monitoring indicators. Practical Implications. The proposed indicators enable annual systematic monitoring of the national pharmaceutical system across research, technology, and self-sufficiency domains, helping policymakers optimize resource allocation focusing on priorities, develop strategies for technology development and pharmaceutical self-sufficiency, and improve research quality. Combining these quantitative indicators with expert content analysis provides a robust foundation for evidence-based national pharmaceutical policymaking. © 2026 The Authors.