An Evaluation of the Reflective Constructs Influencing Community Pharmacists’ Decision-to-Procure from Pharmaceutical Suppliers: A Structural Equation Modeling Study

In low-and middle-income countries, patients’ access to affordable medicines is a perennial challenge at all levels of healthcare delivery. Community pharmacists are expected bridge the supply and demand gap. Unlike plethora studies done hospital government institutions level, there paucity empirical evidence on factors influencing medicine procurement decisions from channels community pharmacy level. The study aimed investigate influence pharmacists’ professional entrepreneurial considerations their decision-to-procure suppliers. A cross-sectional survey which adopted self-administered questionnaire approach obtain primary data randomly sampled respondents (N=398) three purposively selected states in southwestern, Nigeria. Structural equation modeling (SEM) methodology was used test hypothesized model p<0.05. revealed acceptable fit validity measures for measurement structural models. Cost profitability were significant predictors compared service product quality among [β=0.343, p=0.001 vs. β=0.044, p=0.606]. Product selection had positive moderating effect cost [t=1.980, p=0.048] negative directional [t=-2.960, p=0.003]. should balance financial with focus ensure medicines. Study outcomes suggest development implementation universally guidelines settings countries. validated SEM evaluating priorities buying decisions. To best authors’ knowledge, this first use framework explore informing drug perspective