The Impact of Operations Research Methods on the Operational Efficiency of Pharmacies A Field Study in Latakia Governorate

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impact of operations research methods on the operational efficiency of pharmacies operating in the pharmaceutical sector of Latakia Governorate, by measuring dimensions of operational efficiency such as speed of response and service delivery, resource utilization and waste reduction, and process accuracy and error reduction.

   The researcher adopted the descriptive analytical approach in this study. On the practical side, the researcher designed a questionnaire consisting of (20) statements that included the study variables, The researcher distributed 200 questionnaires to a sample of pharmacists, pharmacy managers, and pharmacy assistants working in pharmacies in the pharmaceutical sector in Latakia Governorate. 172 questionnaires were returned, and 6 were excluded as unsuitable for analysis. Therefore, 166 questionnaires were processed and analyzed. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

   The researcher reached the following conclusions: There is a statistically significant effect of using operations research methods on the operational efficiency of the pharmacies under study. It was also found that this effect varies according to the dimensions (speed of response and service delivery, resource utilization and waste reduction, and accuracy of operations and error reduction), as the greatest effect was in the dimension of speed of response and service delivery, while the effect was less in the dimension of resource utilization and waste reduction.