Gulf Medical University Chancellor Prof. Hossam Hamdy Announces Plans to Introduce Pharmacovigilance in PharmD Curriculum
‘The Second Emirates International Conference on Combating Medicinal Products Counterfeiting’ was organized by the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention at Dubai on 1st May 2017. Prof. Hossam Hamdy, the Chancellor of Gulf Medical University, Ajman UAE, attended the conference and also met and exchanged ideas with H.E. Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri – Assistant Undersecretary for MOH Policy & Licenses, Ministry of Health & Prevention, Dubai, who was also the Chairman of the conference. The Chancellor discussed with the conference chairman H.E. Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, the importance of teaching pharmacovigilance and pharma laws at the University level to empower the students evolve as professionals capable of checking illegalities in the sector.
Impressed by Prof. Hossam Hamdy’s suggestion, H.E. Dr. Amin Al Amiri mentioned the same to the audience, during the chairman’s address of the conference. Prof. Hossam Hamdy also made a formal announcement of Gulf Medical University’s plans to introduce Pharmacovigilance as a subject of study for the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) Course offered by its College of Pharmacy. “It is important for the pharma professionals of tomorrow to be attentive and alert as to monitor and report the undesirable effects of drugs including issues related to drug abuse and misuse. So, Gulf Medical University will be introducing pharmacovigilance as a compulsory subject for our Pharm D students,” he explained.
The 2-day conference also witnessed the announcement of an updated federal pharmaceutical law with new procedures to seize counterfeit, controlled and semi-controlled medicines, expected to be in place by the end of the year. This was revealed by H.E. Dr. Amin Al Amiri at the conference.