The College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University participated actively in the GCC Pharmacoeconomics Forum on September 27th and 28th in Dubai. The Forum was organized by the Ministry of Health & Prevention (MoHP), United Arab Emirates. The Dean, Professor Sherief Khalifa, Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Dixon Thomas and final year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students represented Gulf Medical University in the Forum.

The Forum discussed on drug registration, formulary management (inclusion or exclusion of a new drug, treatment or service), to define drug policy, development of treatment guidelines, controlling drug expenditure, purchasing negotiation, pricing in the pharmaceutical industry, to justify reimbursement decisions, and in individual patient treatment decisions. Experts from the U.S. and Europe explained on international standards of practices, while experts from the GCC region brainstormed on local challenges and possible solutions to make the drug therapy cost-effective and affordable.

The students of the College of Pharmacy had a first-hand learning experience on how the health care system functions in the UAE and the region. It was also a great opportunity for them to have personal interactions with experts from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Pharmaceutical Industries, Health Insurance Sector, Healthcare Providers, Academia, and Research.