Pharmacists’ Preparedness for Emergency and Disaster Response: Survey Evidence from Public Hospitals in Gombe and Bauchi States, North East Nigeria

Pharmacists play a critical but often overlooked role in emergency and disaster response, encompassing emergency drug supply management, triage support, mass casualty medication dispensing, and vaccine cold chain maintenance during crises. In North East Nigeria, where communities face ongoing humanitarian challenges, pharmacist preparedness for emergency response is particularly important. This study assessed the level of preparedness and relevant training among pharmacists working in public hospitals in Gombe and Bauchi States. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 95 hospital pharmacists using a structured questionnaire covering emergency training history, familiarity with emergency drug kits, disaster response protocols, and perceived readiness. Only 31 percent of respondents had participated in any form of emergency preparedness training, and only 17 percent were aware of their hospital's official disaster response plan. Familiarity with emergency drug kit contents was adequate in 48 percent. Knowledge of mass casualty triage principles and their pharmaceutical implications was poor in 76 percent of respondents. Interest in receiving emergency pharmacy training was very high at 91 percent. Hospitals in Gombe State showed slightly higher preparedness scores than those in Bauchi, though both were generally low. The study calls for integration of emergency pharmacy practice competencies into postgraduate pharmacy training curricula and hospital orientation programs for North East Nigeria. National pharmaceutical emergency response guidelines should be developed and disseminated. Keywords: emergency preparedness, disaster response, hospital pharmacists, North East Nigeria, pharmaceutical management