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 Aduits and Pharmacoeconomics Evidence for Healthcare Optimization”.

The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health.

Pharmacist Ibrahim Nasser Al Rashdi, Director General of Medical Supplies and Congress Chair, highlighted in his speech during the opening the significance of the event being one of the most prominent scientific activities in the region. It brings together a group of experts and speakers from various fields, with the aim to develop the pharmacy profession and enhancing the exchange of experiences between countries in the region.

Al Rashdi pointed out that the current edition of the congress has expanded its scope to include vital areas such as the use of artificial intelligence in pharmacy practices, the digital transformation of pharmaceutical care services, drug economics, health technology assessment, clinical auditing, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical education development, and enhancing drug safety, especially in critical cases, to ensure patient safety.

He noted that one of the important areas of the forum is the exchange of experiences in the field of health economics. Arab and GCC experiences in building foundations and programs for health economics were presented, including: the Sultanate of Oman’s experience, represented by the Ministry of Health, in developing methodological guidelines for health technology assessment and the process of evaluating high-cost drug approval requests; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s experience in managing medications for rare diseases and implementing value-based healthcare; and Jordan’s experience in Hospital-Based HTA Program in the King Hussein Cancer Center.

At the end of the opening, the patron of the event took a tour of the exhibition that featured a showcase by global pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, alongside prominent pharmacies in the Sultanate of Oman. The exhibition also included leading companies from the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.

The three-day forum brings together over (600) healthcare professionals, with (46) esteemed international, Gulf, and local speakers. It will also feature (43) scientific papers, 13 of which are from Oman, exploring the latest advancements in pharmaceutical practices and drug research. Furthermore, the event includes five general workshops and four specialized workshops focusing on health economics, providing a comprehensive platform for knowledge sharing and professional development.