Evaluation of Disaster Preparedness Levels of Community Pharmacies.

Authors

Özcan Erdoğan, Burak Turhan, Cüneyt Çalışkan, Hüseyin Koçak, Kerem Kınık

Published in

Disaster medicine and public health preparedness. Volume 20. Pages e137. Jul 29, 2026. Epub Jul 29, 2026.

Abstract

Community pharmacies fulfill a pivotal function in maintaining the uninterrupted delivery of health care services and safeguarding the medication supply chain during disaster situations. However, the extant evidence regarding the disaster preparedness levels of pharmacies is limited, particularly in regions with high seismic risk.
The objective of this study was to assess the disaster preparedness levels of community pharmacies in Istanbul and to examine factors associated with their preparedness status.
In this descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted between December 2024 and April 2025, researchers collected data from 360 pharmacies. These pharmacies were selected using a systematic sampling method. The researchers developed a structured questionnaire to collect the data.
The investigation revealed that only 32.8% of pharmacies had a disaster plan, 91.7% had not conducted drills, 85.6% lacked smoke detectors, and 71.4% lacked fire alarms. Conversely, 87.5% of pharmacies reported collaborating with neighboring pharmacies or regional representatives during disaster situations. The findings of the study indicated that pharmacies that had undergone disaster training exhibited significantly higher levels of safety equipment, planning, and material stockpiles (P < 0.05).
The findings indicate that pharmacies in Istanbul demonstrate proficiency in collaboration and fundamental supply procurement. However, deficiencies are observed in drills, fire safety measures, data backup protocols, and strategic planning. In order to enhance the disaster resilience of pharmacies, it is imperative that training programs be expanded, drills be made mandatory, and institutional governance be strengthened.

PMID:
42522439
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 29 Jul 2026.

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