By Ramesh Mathew
Local pharmaceutical importers and distributors Wellcare Group organised a function on Friday to coincide with the World Pharmacists Day celebrations.
The Pharmacists Day is observed on September 25 by International Pharmaceuticals Federation (FIP) in honour of those rendering duties at pharmacies and medical outlets across the world.
At the meeting most of those who spoke highlighted the growing roles of the pharmacies in today’s medical world. The Head of Pharmacy and Drug Control Department at the Supreme Council of Health, Dr Issam El-Deen Hamid Ahmed, maintained that the local pharmaceutical authorities are leaving no stone unturned to keep utmost hygiene and cleanliness in the stand alone pharmacy outlets and pharmacies working elsewhere in the State of Qatar.
Qatar University’s College of Pharmacy dean Dr Ayman El-Kadi highlighted the growing importance of the pharmacists’ profession worldwide. He said their college is actively involved in a mission to improving the scope of the pharmaceutical profession, locally, regionally and internationally.
Wellcare Group chairman K Mukthar said it was owing to the enormous hard work put in by their pharmacists that their group could record significant growth in the local market. After a modest beginning with just one pharmacy in the year 2000, the group now operates 24 outlets in Qatar now, he said.
While thanking the people of Qatar for their continued support to the group’s activities Mukthar vowed to continue their group’s efforts to achieve the objectives and goals of the Qatar National Health Strategy (QNHS).
Managing director K P Ashraf emphasised their group’s commitment to the development of pharmaceutical sector to the levels stipulated by the QNHS. He said the group is prepared to shoulder greater responsibilities in coming days for the implementation of the latest health practices in the country.
He observed that the decision of the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University and College of North Atlantic Qatar (CNA-Q) to send their students for training at Wellcare Group establishments demonstrated their growing confidence in the abilities of their group to deliver quality services.
Later Dr El-Kadi formally launched the Wellcare Pharmacy Club, the aim of which the founders said is to enhance the professional skills of those working in the pharmaceutical sector. .
Aster Group CEO Dr Sameer Moopen, CNAQ lead instructor Dr Norman Wong, Wellcare Group director Abdurahman Chendamangalur, Senior Pharmacist at Primary Health Care Corporation Dr Salah Ahmed and Senior Pharmacist at Women’s Hospital Dr Afifa Ahmed also spoke.
Wellcare Group manager (Pharmacy Academic) S K Vyas made a presentation on the “Futuristic practice of Pharmacy in Qatar”.
Mohamed Farook anchored the programme.
