On behalf of H.E. Chief Executive Officer of
Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, President of King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (
KSAU-HS), Dr. Bandar Al Knawy, His Excellency Colonel Eng. Khalid Mohammad Bakalka, Executive Director of Operations, NGHA, Western Region launched the “Exploring a New Horizon on Pharmacy Practices” International Conference on Monday the 24th of November 2014. The conference, which was attended by 850 pharmacists from various health sectors, was organized by the Pharmaceutical Care Services Department in King Abdulaziz Medical City –Jeddah (
KAMC-J) and in collaboration with the Deanship of Higher Studies at KSAU-HS and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (
ASHP) along with the participation of an elite international speakers from the United States and the United Kingdom as well as local speakers from various health sectors in the Kingdom.
The conference started with a speech delivered by the Chairman of the Scientific Committee, Consultant Pharmacist and the Fellowship Program of Clinical Pharmacy Director Dr. Mohamed Asiri, in which he explained that the profession of pharmacy in the health sector is witnessing a remarkable development, which requires continuous updating to the knowledge and professional skills of pharmacists; and from this point, the Scientific Committee was driven to find high level scientific activities that combine international and local expertise, which resulted in the collaboration with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
Dr. Mohamed added that this conference coincides with the ASHP International Accreditation of the Fellowship Program Of Clinical Pharmacy in King Abdulaziz Medical Cities in both Jeddah and Riyadh to be certified training centers outside the United States.
After that, the Associate Dean of Postgraduate Education and Academic Affairs, KSAU-HS, Jeddah, Dr. Mansour Al Qurashi pointed out that Deanship of Postgraduate Education and Academic Affairs at KSAU-HS - Jeddah considered the importance of post-graduate studies in the field of pharmaceutical clinical care; therefore, Fellow students were offered Clinical Pharmacy scholarship training programs in the United States in order for them to specialize in this field, as well as establishing training programs for Pharma Doctors from which 3 batches graduated over the past years.
Moreover, His Excellency Colonel Eng. Khalid Mohammad Bakalka delivered a speech on behalf of H.E. Dr. Bandar Al Knawy in which he pointed out that the Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs seeks to achieve a unique integration through its therapeutic, preventive, academic as well as its research programs, in order to provide optimal specialized healthcare and adhere to the professional international standards of medical care.
Such programs resulted in establishing the 1st university of its kind in the Middle East that specializes in Health Sciences and offers Medical, Nursing, Applied Medical Sciences programs.
At the end of the ceremony, the speakers, the Scientific and the organizing committee and the participants were awarded. In addition, the organizing committee presented a commemorative plaque to H.E. Dr. Bandar Al Knawy which was received by His Excellency Colonel Eng. Khalid Mohammad Bakalka on his behalf.