Doha: Qatar University’s College of Pharmacy (QU-CPH) announced official opening of its current BSc pharmacy programme from next fall 2020. The online application process is now open and the college is ready to receive 15 male students alongside the usual number of female students.
Furthermore, current QU male students will have the opportunity to apply to transfer to general pharmacy this May. This major milestone in the college history is in line with the country in increasing demand for recruiting male pharmacists especially with the expansion projects in HMC that includes; three hospitals in the Medical City, followed by 400 bedded Emergency Department, Industrial Areas Hospital, Primary Health Centers and pharmaceutical industry.
The Managing Director at Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Dr. Mariam Abdulmalik, said: “We at PHCC support the initiative to have more male pharmacist graduates in Qatar and in the local job market. This programme will intensively meet the growing needs for pharmaceutical service expansion in Qatar to align with the national health strategy and PHCC mission to deliver comprehensive, integrated and coordinated person-centered health care services in the community through focusing on disease prevention, health lifestyles and wellness.
The Executive Director of Pharmacy at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Dr. Moza Al Hail, said: “Over the last few years we have seen a noticeable gap in the absence of Qatari and non-Qatari male pharmacists in hospital practice, anticipated, due to absence of pharmacy degree programme for males in the State of Qatar. This initiative will be a great leap to attract male Qatari and non-Qatari students to join the pharmacy degree”.
The Director of Department of Pharmacy and Drug Control Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Aisha Ibrahim Al Ansari, said: “It is an achievement to commence the male admission in the College of Pharmacy.
Like other professions in the country, the pharmacy should encompass both male and female candidates to equilibrate the normal services in the healthcare setting. Currently, Qatar depends on male pharmacists from different countries around the world to fill this gap; this can be minimized by graduating more in-country pharmacists. The college of pharmacy with female students is doing great and graduating highly qualified pharmacists who are responsible enough to lead the development of pharma profession in the State of Qatar. We would like to see the same progress to be achieved with our male pharmacists.”
Dr Mohammad Diab, Dean of QU-CPH Dean said: “Since the opening of the College of Pharmacy in 2007, the College has been progressing and have been taking huge steps in climbing the ladder of success. Male admission is a huge milestone and a turning point for the College of Pharmacy. The College has been working hard on this initiative in alignment with Qatar National Health Strategy to provide efficient healthcare for everyone and to build significant expansion of the country’s health services.”
“Our initiative also aligns with Qatar University National Strategy for education and maximizing impact. This is determined also to cover the need for male pharmacists in Qatar being graduated as well from the only national College of Pharmacy in Qatar offering high quality Canadian accredited curriculum. This will, without a doubt, take the future of pharmacy and providing efficient healthcare to another level,” he added.
