Abstract
The concept and perspectives of administrators can reflect the direction of development. This research
was aimed at studying the concept and perspectives of administrators regarding the issue of attempting to
extend community pharmacy services under the National Health Security Scheme (NHS). The study was
conducted using in-depth interviews of the administrators responsible for the status of pharmacies with regard to the possibility of providing pharmacy services under NHS, the direction of development for pharmacies,
the value of pharmacies in NHS, stakeholders and factors for success in extending pharmacy services
under the system. Data were gathered and analyzed by content analysis. The results showed that the
administrators agreed with the idea of incorporating community pharmacy services within NHS, but the
standard of practice and the quality of service first had to fulfill NHS criteria. Community pharmacy had to
have a clear status and position in the system. Reimbursement of the services would have to be specified.
The administrators saw the value of extending private pharmacy services as it would increase the accessibility
of the patients to another dimension of health care. Accredited pharmacy services may be an option for
increasing patients’ accessibility to health. To be successful, the administrators said that every stakeholder
would have to take part in his or her own roles according to the context. However, every partner would
have to aim for benefiting the patient, as the system is patient-centered.
