Muscat: Oman International Pharmacy Congress and Exhibition (OIPCX) Regional Forum, organized by the Ministry of Health’s Directorate General of Medical Supplies, kicked off today. The event is held under the theme “From Cost to Value Based Health Care: Integrating Clinical Audits and Pharmacoeconomics Evidence for Healthcare Optimization.” The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health.
According to Oman News Agency, Pharmacist Ibrahim Nasser Al Rashdi, Director General of Medical Supplies and Congress Chair, emphasized in his opening speech the significance of the event as one of the most prominent scientific activities in the region. It aims to develop the pharmacy profession and enhance the exchange of experiences between countries in the region.
Al Rashdi highlighted that the current edition of the congress has broadened its focus to include areas such as the use of artificial intelligence in pharmacy practices, digital transformation of pharmaceutical care, drug economics, health technology assessment, clinical auditing, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical education development, and drug safety enhancement, particularly in critical cases, to ensure patient safety.
He noted that a key aspect of the forum is the exchange of experiences in health economics. Presentations included Arab and GCC experiences in building foundations and programs for health economics. This included the Sultanate of Oman’s experience in developing methodological guidelines for health technology assessment and evaluating high-cost drug approval requests; Saudi Arabia’s experience in managing medications for rare diseases and implementing value-based healthcare; and Jordan’s experience with the Hospital-Based HTA Program at the King Hussein Cancer Center.
At the conclusion of the opening, the event’s patron toured the exhibition, which showcased global pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers alongside prominent Omani pharmacies. The exhibition also featured leading companies from the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
The three-day forum gathers over 600 healthcare professionals and features 46 esteemed international, Gulf, and local speakers. It will present 43 scientific papers, including 13 from Oman, on the latest advancements in pharmaceutical practices and drug research. The event also includes five general workshops and four specialized workshops focusing on health economics, providing a comprehensive platform for knowledge sharing and professional development.