Qatar University (QU) College of Pharmacy (CPH), along with Supreme Council of Health (SCH) Qatar Council for Health Practitioners, Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation, has been instrumental in inaugurating the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in Qatar.  
Provision of the OSCE is the first in the Middle East and the fourth in the world, and comes following a nine-month pilot project to implement the exam in Qatar. It will become part of the pharmacy licensing exam in Qatar with the expected outcome of pharmacists with acceptable minimal benchmarks practising in a clinical setting with patients.
Forty-seven candidates comprising CPH students, community, clinic and hospital pharmacists were involved in taking the pilot exams on May 27 at QU.
The exam assesses the clinical skills of prospective and practising pharmacists and is currently the “exit from degree” assessment used in pharmacy programmes in Australia Canada, the UK and US, and which all students take simultaneously.
Examinees are assessed on interaction with patients, communicating clearly with ESL patients, communicating across cultural barriers and ethical issues, critical thinking, building a patient care plan and application of knowledge. Also assessed is the knowledge and process of developing a care plan of the common diseases prevalent in Qatar.
While it is voluntary in the pharmacy profession in Qatar, the exam is a requirement for all CPH final-year students.  
QU president Prof Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad said, “We are proud of this accomplishment achieved alongside our partners. It is a testament to our collaborative efforts towards serving the community and realising the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Health Strategy.”
QU V-P and chief academic officer Dr Mazen Hasna said: “This highlights how QU continues to build an academic environment that is vibrant and forward-thinking on cutting-edge initiatives to produce highly competent graduates”.
University of Toronto expert consultant Dr Zubin Austin, who guided the process of implementing the pilot exam, said: “This is a milestone achievement for Qatar.”
A statement issued by the pilot project team read, “It is a great pleasure to initiate the OSCE exam as part of the pharmacy licensing exam in Qatar.”
CPH dean Dr Ayman El-Kadi said, “Adopting this examination within our curriculum is part of our vision to graduate students with high proficiency to meet the healthcare needs of Qatar, and for CPH to be the best pharmacy college in the region.”