Qatar University’s (QU) College of Pharmacy (QU-CPH), in collaboration with Qatar Pharmacy Undergraduate Society (QPhUS), recently marked the 10th World Pharmacists Day with an online event that was attended by all faculty and students, and was screened on YouTube.
The theme for this year’s event was *Transforming Global Health, taking the opportunity to communicate how pharmacists are transforming healthcare through a variety of health services in their communities.
World Pharmacists Day is an annual celebration recognising the role of the pharmacist in contributing to and improving patient health.
Dr Mohamed Diab, associate professor and dean at QU-CPH, opened the event with welcoming remarks: ‘We are honoured to be able to celebrate the annual occasion of the World Pharmacists Day here in CPH.
“The Pharmaceutical International Federation started celebrating this day in 2009, and since the start of the college we have been keen on sharing the celebration, and that is to stress on the importance of pharmacists as an integral part of the healthcare team as well as their crucial role in advancing healthcare.
“This aligns with our vision in advancing healthcare in Qatar and the world through excellence and innovation in pharmacy education, research and service.”
Hend al-Naimi, QPhUS president and Professional Year 4 pharmacy student, welcome the audience, saying: “This year we’re celebrating World Pharmacists Day under the theme *Transforming Global Health, which is timely with the coronavirus pandemic that we all face.
“Pharmacists are one of the key healthcare professionals that helped during the pandemic as frontliners.
“During this event QPhUS would like to take the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all of the pharmacists around the world, including our future pharmacists, who are passionate and enthusiastic about the bright pharmacy future awaiting them.”
This was followed by a keynote speech delivered by Dr Wesam Smidi, assistant executive director of Clinical Services, Mental Health Hospital at Hamad Medical Corporation.
In his address Dr Wesam commented: “We want to congratulate and recognise our fellow pharmacists on their day, and appreciate all the hard work and dedication they put, day in and day out, to provide the safest and most effective care for our patients here in Qatar.”
He discussed the evolving roles of the pharmacist in Qatar, as an integral part of the healthcare profession, during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease.
These roles include the home delivery service of medication, providing telephone patient counseling, and participation of pharmacists in continuously updating the guidelines and protocols to treat Covid-19.
Dr Wesam also discussed the future roles for pharmacists that will support in managing the pandemic.
Finally, a “thank you” video produced by QU-CPH pharmacy students honoured all pharmacists and thanked them for their hard work.
The event concluded with the announcement of the winners of the video competition “Building Resilience in Pharmacy Students”.
The winner was Duha Akasheh, Professional Year student.
On winning, Duha commented: “I am very happy to participate and win a new and unique competition offered to us as students at the College of Pharmacy.
“For me, this competition represented a wonderful opportunity to reflect on my experience as a pharmacy student (amid) the Covid-19 pandemic and how to overcome different challenges facing us under the current situation.
“I would like to thank the college for giving us the opportunity to unleash our talents and creativity in various academic and non-academic activities.”
World Pharmacists Day is an annual celebration recognising the role of the pharmacist in contributing to and improving patient health.
Dr Mohamed Diab, associate professor and dean at QU-CPH, opened the event with welcoming remarks: ‘We are honoured to be able to celebrate the annual occasion of the World Pharmacists Day here in CPH.
“The Pharmaceutical International Federation started celebrating this day in 2009, and since the start of the college we have been keen on sharing the celebration, and that is to stress on the importance of pharmacists as an integral part of the healthcare team as well as their crucial role in advancing healthcare.
“This aligns with our vision in advancing healthcare in Qatar and the world through excellence and innovation in pharmacy education, research and service.”
Hend al-Naimi, QPhUS president and Professional Year 4 pharmacy student, welcome the audience, saying: “This year we’re celebrating World Pharmacists Day under the theme *Transforming Global Health, which is timely with the coronavirus pandemic that we all face.
“Pharmacists are one of the key healthcare professionals that helped during the pandemic as frontliners.
“During this event QPhUS would like to take the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all of the pharmacists around the world, including our future pharmacists, who are passionate and enthusiastic about the bright pharmacy future awaiting them.”
This was followed by a keynote speech delivered by Dr Wesam Smidi, assistant executive director of Clinical Services, Mental Health Hospital at Hamad Medical Corporation.
In his address Dr Wesam commented: “We want to congratulate and recognise our fellow pharmacists on their day, and appreciate all the hard work and dedication they put, day in and day out, to provide the safest and most effective care for our patients here in Qatar.”
He discussed the evolving roles of the pharmacist in Qatar, as an integral part of the healthcare profession, during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease.
These roles include the home delivery service of medication, providing telephone patient counseling, and participation of pharmacists in continuously updating the guidelines and protocols to treat Covid-19.
Dr Wesam also discussed the future roles for pharmacists that will support in managing the pandemic.
Finally, a “thank you” video produced by QU-CPH pharmacy students honoured all pharmacists and thanked them for their hard work.
The event concluded with the announcement of the winners of the video competition “Building Resilience in Pharmacy Students”.
The winner was Duha Akasheh, Professional Year student.
On winning, Duha commented: “I am very happy to participate and win a new and unique competition offered to us as students at the College of Pharmacy.
“For me, this competition represented a wonderful opportunity to reflect on my experience as a pharmacy student (amid) the Covid-19 pandemic and how to overcome different challenges facing us under the current situation.
“I would like to thank the college for giving us the opportunity to unleash our talents and creativity in various academic and non-academic activities.”
