From left: Dr Mohamad Dib, Dr Hassan Al Derham, and Dr Egon Toft at the conference.
DOHA: Qatar University College of Pharmacy (QU-CPH) hosted the first-ever conference on “Medication Sector in Qatar: Hand in Hand Facing the Blockade” on March 9-10, aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the unjust blockade’s impact on medication security in Qatar and to identify the various opportunities and challenges of achieving an independent medicinal identity in Qatar.
The two-day conference serves as a platform to discuss the impact of the blockade on the right to health under the international law, covering three main themes represented by medication management and accessibility to medication in Qatar, building pharmaceutical industry and innovation in Qatar and building human capacity in Qatar.
The event brought together over 150 experts from QU, Ebn Sina, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Qatar Pharma, Qatar Pharmaceutical Industry, and Qlife. They shared their expertise and experience to address the need of building and preserving medication security in Qatar.
The first day featured a keynote speech by Dr Abdullatif Al Khal. Dr Al Khal highlighted the economic sanctions and their impact, the National Health Strategy, the consumption of medications at the national level, the national formulary, the governance structure of medications management, the role of pharmacy and therapeutics committees, and the negative impact of the blockade on health care and pharmaceuticals.
The second day featured many discussions focused on three main themes: “Medication Management and Accessibility to Medication in Qatar”, “Building Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation in Qatar”, and “Building Human Capacity in Qatar”. It also included two panel discussions titled “Building Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation: Current Challenges and Future Directions” and “Medication Security for Qatar” moderated by Dr Feras Alali, as well as a workshop on “Qatar Generic Medicines Policy” delivered by Dr Mohamed Azmi Hassali, Professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. In his remarks, Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “The health care sector is an essential pillar to build the society. In this regard, the State of Qatar strives to provide its people with the best level of health care and health services.
Dr Mohamad Dib said: The conference serves as a significant platform to bring together many stakeholders and experts from academic, industrial, governmental and pharmaceutical sectors in Qatar to share their expertise and experience to address the need of building and preserving medication security in Qatar.
