OBJECTIVES:

- To identify stakeholders' understanding of drug shortage and the internal process of reporting a drug shortage to the SFDA.

- To evaluate the satisfaction of stakeholder's on services of SFDA drug availability department.

- To explore the impact of COVID-19 on drug shortage in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study consisting of three separate surveys targeting:

• Health care providers , and National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO) registered in Saudi-vigilance
• Pharmaceutical companies/storage that are registered in (RSD).
• Descriptive analysis such as percentages and frequencies was preformed to describe the knowledge and the practice of the targeted stakeholders.

RESULTS: Drug shortages was defined by healthcare institutions as the unavailability of the product in the agent's stocks and by NUPCO as zero stock, and confirmation by pharmaceutical companies of product unavailability. Positive Feedback on drug availability services; 55% supplying agents compliance, 69% drug availability improvement and 89% SFDA contribution to facilitate drug availability. Satisfaction on reporting system was reported by (47%) of healthcare institutions and (43%) of pharmaceutical companies .COVID-19 pandemic impact on drug shortages: Most pharmaceutical company identified highest impact on different medication groups (39.7%) and antibiotics (22.2%). Most Healthcare institutions identified highest impact on antiviral medications (80%).

CONCLUSIONS: Most of the stakeholders had a positive feedback and good satisfaction rate on services of SFDA drug availability department.