Karachi, June 10, 2023 (PPI-OT): Over 75% of pharmacies in Pakistan are without trained qualified pharmacists to dispense medical prescriptions, only about 15% of qualified pharmacists are engaged in community pharmacy said on Saturday by Dr. Syed Zafar Zaidi, CEO, Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN), and Dean-Indus University of Health Sciences (IUHS). He further mentioned that as a result pharmacy workforce in Pakistan is decades behind their counterparts in the developed world. It is partly due to the reluctance of doctors to engage pharmacists in providing direct healthcare service, unawareness in patients that they can consult pharmacists and many other factors”, Dr. Syed Zafar Zaidi said while speaking at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Ceremony between Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) and local pharmaceutical firm PharmEvo.
Under the MoU signed between the two organizations, PharmEvo is providing both, financial and technical resources for the construction of the upcoming ‘Ibne Sina College of Pharmacy’, Indus University of Health Sciences at the New Hospital Building in Korangi, Karachi. Dr. Syed Zafar Zaidi, CEO, IHHN and Dean-Indus University of Health Sciences went on to brief the audience on the acute challenges of Pharmacy education in Pakistan and maintained that limited interaction between doctors and pharmacists; lack of industry experience and a dearth of job opportunities in pharmaceutical care services were among some other issues faced by the pharmacists’ community in Pakistan. “In these circumstances, we believe that Ibne Sina College of Pharmacy will pursue an aim to be a college of international standard and stature by implementing a world-class curriculum, instilling compassion in its students, creating linkages between academia and industry, fostering collaborative learning and offering a model of experiential learning”, he maintained.
President IHHN, Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, acknowledged PharmEvo’s remarkable support towards the Ibne Sina College of Pharmacy, commenting that PharmEvo’s generosity clearly demonstrates the priority and value they place in laying the foundation of an excellent university in Pakistan, which will nurture the next generation of healthcare leaders, particularly in the field of pharmacy. “IHHN takes pride in partnering with PharmEvo and we look forward to working with them for our united vision of high-quality education to address the human capital challenges in Pakistan”, he said, adding that they were thrilled to enter into a partnership with its most formidable partner, PharmEvo, for the development of excellent pharmacists. “We pray that our partnership with PharmEvo continues to reinforce our noble mission”, he hoped.
Chairman Premier Group, Mr. Ebrahim Qasim appreciated IHHN and Indus University of Health Sciences for championing the excellent health education in Pakistan particularly for pharmacists. “The pressing need for skilled and talented pharmacists in Pakistan’s fragile healthcare infrastructure cannot be overstated. Our society is in dire need of healthcare professionals who can make a tangible impact on the well-being of our people. “We are striving for the creation of a healthier society through industry academia collaboration, which is the need of the moment for the country”. Mr. Ebrahim Qassim said that PharmEvo is known in pharmaceutical industry as a pioneer in socially responsible organization. Our values of respect, trust, integrity, ethics and excellence are completely aligned with those of IHHN and the organization’s compassion has shone through its remarkable commitment towards constructing the Ibne Sina College of Pharmacy.
At the ceremony held on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at the Indus Hospital, Korangi Campus, other key members of PharmEvo management attended including Mr. Muhammad Haroon Qassim, Managing Director, PharmEvo, and Mr. Syed Jamshed Ahmed, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, PharmEvo. From IHHN, Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr. Abdul Karim Paracha, Chairman, Resource Generation and Partnerships Committee, Board of Directors, Mr. Salim Tabani, Member of the Board, Mr. Khalid Khanani, Mr. Tariq Shafi and Mr. Syed Mashhood Rizvi, Executive Director, Communications and Resource Development attended. Chancellor, IUHS and Ex-Chairman of the Board, IHHN, and Mr. Siddique Sheikh concluded the session with a dua.
For more information, contact
The Indus Hospital (TIH)
C-76, Sector 31/5, Opposite Darussalam Society,
Korangi Crossing, Karachi – 75190, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35112709-17
Fax: +92-21-35112718
Email: crd@indushospital.org.pk
Website: http://www.indushospital.org.pk/