The Director of the Drug Control Department at the Supreme Council of Health Dr Aisha Ibrahim Al Ansari and the Managing Director of Well Care group Ashraf K P with other officials and pharmacists after cutting the cake to celebrate the World Pharmacists Day yesterday. Abdul Basit
By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: World Pharmacists Day was celebrated here yesterday acknowledging the rapid growth of pharmaceutical industry in the country.
Celebrated for the first time in Qatar, a large number of pharmacists gathered at Oryx Rotana Hotel to mark World Pharmacist Day, discuss the theme of the year ‘Responsible Medicine Use – We Always Support and Ensure Health of the Community.’
Experts gathered highlighted that the profession of pharmacist is growing in Qatar in together with other parts of the world. They discussed about the commitment of pharmacists to have structured professional practice to have a positive effect on the health of the community.
“The profession is growing rapidly; growing here more than other places. This is the right place for pharmacists,” said Nadir Kheir, Assistant Professor and Coordinator at College of Pharmacy at the Qatar University.
“The industry is expanding in the country as the healthcare sector is expanding with a vision of giving prominence for primary healthcare, in which community pharmacy is a part,” he said.
However, he stressed the need for pharmacists to enhance their knowledge. “At times there is a gap between academic studies and practical knowledge. Therefore through conferences, seminars and post graduate studies pharmacists should fill this gap,” explained Dr Kheir.
The event, organised by the Well Care Group, was also attended by Dr Aisha Ibrahim Al Ansari, Director, Drug Control Department, Supreme Council of Health, and representatives from Hamad Medical Cooperation, College of North Atlantic and several other institutions.
At the 2009 Council meeting a the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, the Turkish Pharmacists Association suggested to annually celebrate a World Pharmacists Day, to be organised on September 25 (the day that FIP was founded in 1912).
This proposal was unanimously accepted by the Council and since 2010, World Pharmacists Day has been coordinated by FIP and celebrated through the involvement of its member organisations, either with structured, widespread campaigns or small scale projects.
Qatar with its fast growing healthcare industry has over 700 pharmacists including 400 community pharmacists and 300 working at hospitals.
The Peninsula
