DUBAI — Dr. Amin Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for public health and licensing, Ministry of Health in the UAE, inaugurated the GCC Pharmaceutical Congress today and continues until tomorrow at Dusit Thani Dubai. The congress will bring together more than 300 healthcare and pharmaceutical experts from across the Gulf countries, USA and Europe to discuss the key developments and innovations in pharmacy practice from regulations to innovative technologies. Dr. Amin highlighted in his the speech the importance of innovation in the healthcare industry and the pharmaceutical sector, especially after announcing year 2015 as the “year of innovation”. Following the vision for the UAE to be among the best countries in the healthcare sector, a health executive board committee was formed in order to implement the strategic goals for 2020 and the 2021 vision of the UAE to be at the forefront in healthcare and pharmaceutical services. He added that UAE has jumped from 27th place to 12th place in the International Competitive Index in only four years. Dr. Amin also unveiled the recent approval of two novel drugs by FDA and their registration before the end of October in the UAE, with one drug to be a breakthrough in diabetes therapy, and the second drug to decrease the morbidity and mortality in heart failure patients by at least 20%. The UAE will be the first country to introduce these drugs in the MENA region.
Dr. Mariam Ghaldari, president of the Emirates Medical Association Pharmacy Society, in her welcome address stressed on the important role of pharmacists in the healthcare field generally and pharmacy sector specially. Dr. Mariam, who has over 20 years' experience in the field is considered the mother of pharmacists in UAE. She talked about the importance of attending conferences related to pharmacy and healthcare in order to be up-to-date with the latest innovations in the field of healthcare. The inauguration was followed by the welcome remark of Dr. Lana Hammad, pharmacy manager of Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital in the UAE who currently chairs the congress. Dr. Lana is also among the key leaders who led a panel discussion on how to achieve optimal good pharmacy practice models. One of the major challenges nowadays among pharmacists in the GCC is how they can further support the recent developments that have now shaped the pharmacy practice in the region. Over the past decade, pharmacy practice has seen a leap from the role of just handing-in the medication to a more patient-centric approach where pharmacists are more oriented now towards patient care. However, some experts believe that while the GCC has witnessed rapid developments, some healthcare institutions within the different states in the region have not yet still utilized the means used in Western countries to assist in providing pharmaceutical care to patients. “In US and UK, drug problems are usually documented which are then utilized to improve medication to help pharmacists provide pharmaceutical care to each patient,” said Dr. Mohamed Al Hadairi, head of Drug Central Registration Department, the Executive Board of Health Ministers Council in the GCC States. As the region's pharmacy practice begins to move forward, it is necessary that pharmacists are equipped with advanced education and knowledge to cope up with these developments. The day saw enthusiastic discussions from regional and international experts from all sectors and regulators as they shared their experiences on improving pharmacy practice, improving medication safety from regulations to practice, and bridging the gap for achieving professional excellence in clinical pharmacy. — SG
