On Friday morning more than 200 university administratives, officials, representatives of health organizations, and pharmacists from Lebanon and the Middle East region gathered in Jamal Abdul Nasser Hall to attend the opening ceremony of the Arab Pharmacists Union (APU)- BAU Scientific Congress entitled  ‘Appropriate Use of Medications: A Guarantee for A Safe Society’; which was under the patronage of the Minister of Public Health ‘Wael Abou Faour’ and BAU president Prof. Amr Jalal Al Adawi.

The scientific congress aimed to raise the pharmacists’ awareness on medication therapy management and medication safety as a pivotal role in serving their community.

The congress opening included a speech delivered by BAU president, Prof. Amr Jalal Al Adawi, Ministry of Public Health representative, Dr. Collette Raidy, President of ‏APU and Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon, Dr. Rabih Hassouneh, the secretary general of APU, Dr. Ali Ibrahim, and the dean of the faculty of pharmacy at BAU, Prof. Abdalla El Lakany.

In his words, Prof. Abdalla El Lakany welcomed the attendees and put emphasis on the role of the faculty of pharmacy in serving the community and collaborating with academic institutions and health organizations to advance pharmacy profession. He also highlighted the importance of curricular development in the faculty to attain the accreditation from the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) and to meet the needs of the society.

During the two-day congress, speakers from the faculty of pharmacy at BAU, LU, USJ, LAU, and LIU presented valuable lectures on patient safety and appropriate utilization of medications.

‘The congress was successful by all means. It was a great chance to meet pharmacists and lecturers from all over Lebanon to be aware of the practice in different regions and accordingly rectify the gaps in pharmacy practice for a safe society’ quoted Dr. Safaa Hamoud, Lecturer at the faculty of pharmacy, BAU.

‘The congress was very organized, the sessions started and ended on time. Moreover, the lectures presented were beneficial and helped me to advance my practice by focusing on the appropriate use of medications’ quoted Yamama Hmadeh, a community pharmacist.