Defining the domains and knowledge areas for pharmacy supply chain practice: A consensus-driven study

PURPOSE: To define the key domains and knowledge areas necessary for effective pharmacy supply chain (PSC) practice and to establish a validated framework that can guide curriculum development. As pharmacists increasingly take on strategic roles in procurement, logistics, and medication-use systems, structured education is needed to prepare them for the evolving demands of PSC leadership. METHODS: This national, consensus-based study was conducted from spring 2024 to spring 2025 using a 3-phase design. Twenty-two pharmacy leaders participated in structured focus groups (phase 1, n = 10) and an independent curriculum review (phase 2, n = 12), followed by a modified Delphi consensus survey (phase 3). Participants identified and refined PSC knowledge areas and domains and rated each for frequency of use and perceived importance. Curricula from 12 supply chain programs based in the United States were reviewed to benchmark topic coverage. RESULTS: A 5-domain framework was developed: (1) Manufacturer (Supply and Procurement), (2) Distribution (Logistics, Inventory, and Warehousing), (3) Operations (Procurement, Management, and Automation), (4) Medication Use Management (Practice, Value, and Patient Care), and (5) Overarching Competencies. All domains met the a priori consensus threshold of ≥80%. Participants rated traditional supply chain topics-such as sourcing, cost analysis, and supplier strategy-as critically important but infrequently used. Many selected pharmacy-centric topics even when exposed to broader supply chain curricula. CONCLUSION: This study introduces the first validated PSC framework to inform pharmacy education. It provides a foundation for developing pharmacy-specific curricula that reflect current practice gaps and enable pharmacists to lead within increasingly complex supply chain environment.