Doha: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)'s Pharmacy Department has introduced several initiatives to ensure safe and effective care for patients. It includes education and training programmes for pharmacists as well as for local and regional pharmaceutical students.

The Corporate Pharmacy Executive Office at HMC is leading the Continuing Pharmacy Development (CPD) and providing high quality evidence-based education to all pharmacy professionals, said Executive Director of Pharmacy Department at HMC, Dr. Moza Al Hail.

“In line with HMC’s vision, our aim is to provide the safest and most effective care to all our patients through education and training,” she told The Peninsula. “Under the Corporate Pharmacy Executive Office, we have a well-established Continuing Professional Pharmacy Development (CPPD) Program for pharmacy professionals to advance professional development, establish an interprofessional learning environment, promote excellent patient care and optimise patient outcomes,” she added. Pharmacy Department also engages in improving exchange of knowledge and expertise. The department is in a collaborative partnership with the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP).

“We have always given predominant importance to the educational and training activities in collaboration with the American Society of Health System Pharmacists. We have developed internationally accredited pharmacy residency programme,” said Dr. Al Hail.

According to Dr. Moza Al Hail, pharmacists at HMC continue to attend local and international conferences, symposiums and training programmes on latest developments and changing practices in pharmaceutical services.

The department has also entered into local and international collaborations to enhance patient care services and promote patient safety practices among pharmaceutical students.

The collaborations help in exchanging expertise and producing competent future pharmacists, said Dr. Al Hail.

“To provide excellent patient care services and to promote patient safety through pharmacy practice, education and research, we have active collaborations with national and international organisations,” she said. “These collaborations are aimed at exchanging resources, skills, and research expertise,” Dr. Al Hail added.

Through collaborations, Pharmacy Department also aims at ensuring that pharmaceutical students learn to provide patients not only the correct medication and dosing, but that they have the guidance they need to use the medication safely and effectively.

Pharmacy Department’s collaborations include with Qatar University, University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), National University of Science and Technology (Oman), University of Colorado School of Pharmacy (USA), and Purdue University College of Pharmacy (USA).

“Our Post-graduate Year One Pharmacy Residency programme (PGY1) has been accredited by the American society. Such partnerships are among the key objectives of the corporate pharmacy strategy and are in line with HMC’s progression as an academic health system,” she added.

According to Dr. Al Hail, Pharmacy Department has also conducted many clinical rotations for QU and UDST students.

As part of an agreement between HMC’s Pharmacy Department and College of Pharmacy at the National University of Science and Technology (NU) Oman, students obtain training in clinical pharmacology and mentorship by the competent staff at HMC’s healthcare facilities.

“For the first time we had five students from National University of Science and Technology in Oman complete their clinical rotation at HMC’s world-class facilities; as mentors, well qualified and experienced pharmacy professionals provide students with hands-on training and share knowledge to practice when they graduate,” said Dr. Al Hail.

© Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing & Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).