As part of its efforts to develop professional and scientific activities to improve the pharmaceutical sector at all levels, the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists held its 22nd Annual Congress under the theme “Medication Safety in the Arab World” held along with the 29th scientific congress of the Arab Pharmacists Union under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister Mr. Tammam Salam represented by Minister of Labour Sejaan Azzi on October 24th, 25th, and 26th 2014 at the Hilton Habtoor, Beirut.
This was the declaration of Dr. Rabih Hassouneh, president of the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists, noting that the pharmacy conference and exhibition are considered one of the most eminent events in the pharmacy sector. The Order also endeavored to organize a well studied scientific program including all pharmacy specializations. The program included conferences focusing on the means of promoting drug safety in Lebanon and the Arab World, especially amidst the challenges facing the pharmacy profession as well as the continuous violations for which price is paid first and foremost by the Arab citizen whether in terms of health or cost. Moreover, conferences allocated to develop the technical and managerial skills of the pharmacists were presented by healthcare professionals coming from Europe and the Arab World. Multiple conference rooms were allotted for a period of three days to receive the audience of pharmacists.
The conference has tackled, through its scientific sessions and workshops, several important and new subjects in the pharmacy profession and drug safety management, including the rationalization of drugs’ consumption and the improvement of the pharmaceutical quality services.
Dr. Hassouneh also referred to the fact that the participation of multiple pharmaceutical companies at the exhibition, reflects the Order’s concern to promote the continuous communication means amongst the professionals in the sector. .
During the conference, the president of the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists, Dr. Rabih Hassouneh, was elected president of the Arab Pharmacists Union.
On the sidelines of the conference, the president of the Order was pleased to offer trophies to each of the official and honored pharmacists.
His Excellency declared, after the opening of the Arab pharmacists conference and exhibition, that Dr. Hassouna being the president of the Arab Union for pharmacists is an important step in this delicate phase experienced by the Arab world .
He also congratulated the organizing committee of the pharmacists’ exhibition and conference for the continuous success it has achieved since it has been launched. He also praised the efforts that have been deployed to upgrade the scientific educational level of the Arab pharmacists.
After the opening ceremony of the exhibition, His Excellency made a tour around the exhibiting companies with HE Minister of Energy and Water Arthurer Nazarian and representative of HE Minister of Health Wael Abu Faour Dr. Diane Charbel and representative of MP Michel Aoun, MP Naji Gharios and Chairman of the Health Committee in Parliament MP Atef Majdalani and the Minister of Environment of Kingdom of Jordan, Dr. Tahir Chkhir and other political and Arab figures.
The Board of the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists was keen, in the frame of its efforts aiming at upgrading the pharmacy profession, to support this scientific forum which was absent from Lebanon for a period of fifty years.