Issues concerning pharmacy practice will come to the fore at the GCC Pharmaceutical Congress which takes place in Dubai next month.

Among topics to be discussed at the event, to be held from October 5 to 8 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Dubai, will be pharmacy mentorship programmes, and management of key operational challenges faced by pharmacy managers in a hospital setting, said a statement from the organisers Maarefah Management.

“As the GCC’s pharmaceutical sector moves towards a more patient-centric model, pharmacists are playing an increasingly important role in providing quality care to patients and they are vital members of the healthcare team,” it said.

“Pharmacists play an important role as leaders to improve healthcare outcomes, decrease cost, reduce patient safety risk, optimise medication management systems and align  pharmacy services with management strategies that measure and reward quality performance.

“However, the continuing evolution of the pharmacist role is tied to numerous challenges including collaboration with the different stakeholders in the medical community, learning about new technologies, remaining competitive in the marketplace, improving patient outcomes, maintaining productivity and more.”

Dr Lamia Yahya, clinical pharmacist at Corniche Hospital in the UAE, believes that the pharmacy practice in the region is booming and is an actively growing profession.

“It has moved away from the classic role of just ‘handing in’ the medication to the patient, to more orientation towards patient care,” she said.

As many as 27 speakers, an overwhelming number of whom represent health ministries of GCC states, hospitals, clinics and insurance companies, have been listed.

The congress is supported by the executive board of the Health Ministers’ Council for GCC States, American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), Oman Pharmaceutical Society, Emirates Medical Association Pharmacy Society and Dubai Healthcare City. Academic organisations including Qatar University, University of Sharjah, Gulf Medical University and Dubai Pharmacy College are also backing it.