Qatar University College of Pharmacy (QU-CPH) and Al Wakra Hospital of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) held the first symposium on medication safety recently at the Sharq Hotel & Spa under the theme ‘It’s everyone’s concern’.
The event was aimed at engaging the spirit of inter-professional collaborative care and to involve input from pharmacists, physicians, nurses and administrators to cover the full spectrum of patient care.
The one-day event was held in partnership with the International Society of Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) GCC Chapter and brought together over 150 clinically-oriented pharmacists, healthcare providers, researchers, academia and students from health-related disciplines.
Guest speakers from CPH, HMC and King Saud University covered topics including medication safety policy, adverse event reporting, assessing medication quality, and the role of a pharmacist in research. Research, practice and direct patient care at Al Wakra Hospital was also discussed.
CPH dean Dr Ayman El-Kadi said: “This symposium showcases the importance of medication safety and the role of the pharmacist in this regard. Discussions and recommendations emanating from it will serve to raise the standard of practice in Qatar as the country moves towards fulfilling the National Health Strategy 2011-2016 with a skilled national workforce, effective services and a comprehensive world-class healthcare system.”
Al Wakra Hospital pharmacy director Dr Rasha al-Anany stated: “This symposium is a great opportunity for senior healthcare providers, researchers, and aspiring pharmacists in Qatar to come together and engage in discussions on medication safety to stimulate enhanced health outcomes.”
Medication safety is a key area of research currently being conducted by CPH. A two-year project by CPH faculty Dr Kerry Wilbur and Dr Ahmed Awaisu is exploring medication errors at HMC practice sites in an NPRP-funded study in collaboration with HMC and Robert Gordon University UK, with the aim of improving prescription safety and attendant systems.
Dr Ayman El-Kadi
