Staffing of doctors-clinical pharmacologists of medical organizations

Introduction. Staffing of medical organizations with clinical pharmacologists is an important characteristic of the organizational sustainability of the drug supply system, as these specialists are involved in expert support of pharmacotherapy, pharmacovigilance, formulary policy, and reduction of drug-associated risks. Aim. To conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current state and trends of staffing of medical organizations of the Russian Federation with clinical pharmacologists. Materials and methods. A retrospective descriptive-analytical study was conducted based on official federal statistical observation data from Form № 30 «Information on the Medical Organization» for 2019–2024. The analysis included data for the Russian Federation, eight federal districts, and 85 subjects of the Russian Federation. The number of clinical pharmacologists and population provision with these specialists per 10,000 population were assessed. Absolute changes, growth rates, and polynomial approximation were calculated. Results and discussion. In 2019–2024, the number of clinical pharmacologists in the Russian Federation decreased by 2%, or by 15 specialists, indicating the absence of sustainable workforce growth. The provision of clinical pharmacologists was 0.05 per 10,000 population in the Russian Federation; however, significant interregional disparities were revealed. The most substantial decline in the number of clinical pharmacologists was observed in the Far Eastern, Volga, and Siberian Federal Districts, whereas the greatest increase was registered in the Central Federal District. In eight subjects of the Russian Federation, clinical pharmacologists were absent by 2024. Conclusion. Staffing of medical organizations of the Russian Federation with clinical pharmacologists is characterized by stagnation of the total number of specialists, pronounced regional heterogeneity, and the presence of territories lacking physicians of this specialty. The findings substantiate the need for risk-based monitoring and the development of managerial decisions aimed at enhancing the sustainability of staffing of medical organizations with clinical pharmacologists