More than 150 healthcare and medical professionals from all over the UAE are expected to participate in the conference to be hosted by Gulf Pharmacy College on April 25.

The college, a constituent college of Gulf Medical University (GMU), is hosting a conference on Pharmaceutical Care – Challenges and Opportunities, at the GMU Campus in Ajman.

The event will offer a common platform for professionals and pharmacists to exchange knowledge about challenges and opportunities for pharmacists.

'Pharmaceutical care basically means improving the medication use process in order to improve outcomes, including the patients' quality of life, and that involves a focus change for pharmacy from product to patient,' stated Prof Arun Shirwaikar, dean Gulf Pharmacy College.

'This change in focus also implies that the pharmacy curriculum should be adapted, in order for the pharmacist to be able to acquire new knowledge and skills.'

'In most countries this change currently is taking place but not in very deliberate or structured manner. Some basic decisions have to be made, in order to guarantee that every patient receives pharmaceutical care when needed.'

'It will be necessary to set new practice standards, establish cooperative relationships with other health-care professions, and determine strategies for marketing pharmaceutical care.'

'Pharmacy's re-professionalisation will be completed only when all pharmacists accept their social mandate to ensure the safe and effective drug therapy of the individual patient.'

'As we seek the optimal societal strategy for innovative drug therapy, resource allocation decisions have to be made. Widening the debate and informing the debaters will enhance the chances of making choices that achieve the best health for the most people at the best cost,' concluded Prof Shirwaikar.-TradeArabia News Service