Indus Hospital & Health Network signs MoU with PharmEvo for establishing ‘Ibne Sina College of Pharmacy’

Karachi: Over 75% of pharmacies in Pakistan are without trained qualified pharmacists to dispense medical prescriptions, only about 15% of qualified pharmacists are engaged in community pharmacy said on Saturday by Dr. Syed Zafar Zaidi, CEO, Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), and Dean-Indus University of Health Sciences (IUHS). He further mentioned that as a result pharmacy workforce in Pakistan is decades behind their counterparts in the developed world. It is partly due to the reluctance of doctors to engage pharmacists in providing direct healthcare service, unawareness in patients that they can consult pharmacists and many other factors”, Dr. Syed Zafar Zaidi said while speaking at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Ceremony between Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) and local pharmaceutical firm PharmEvo.

Under the MoU signed between the two organizations, PharmEvo is providing both, financial and technical resources for the construction of the upcoming ‘Ibne Sina College of Pharmacy’, Indus University of Health Sciences at the New Hospital Building in Korangi, Karachi.

Dr. Syed Zafar Zaidi, CEO, IHHN and Dean-Indus University of Health Sciences went on to brief the audience on the acute challenges of Pharmacy education in Pakistan and maintained that limited interaction between doctors and pharmacists; lack of industry experience and a dearth of job opportunities in pharmaceutical care services were among some other issues faced by the pharmacists’ community in Pakistan. “In these circumstances, we believe that Ibne Sina College of Pharmacy will pursue an aim to be a college of international standard and stature by implementing a world-class curriculum, instilling compassion in its students, creating linkages between academia and industry, fostering collaborative learning and offering a model of experiential learning”, he maintained.

President IHHN, Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, acknowledged PharmEvo’s remarkable support towards the Ibne Sina College of Pharmacy, commenting that PharmEvo’s generosity clearly demonstrates the priority and value they place in laying the foundation of a world-class university in Pakistan, which will nurture the next generation of healthcare leaders, particularly in the field of pharmacy. “IHHN takes pride in partnering with PharmEvo and we look forward to working with them for our united vision of high-quality education to address the human capital challenges in Pakistan”, he said, adding that they were thrilled to enter into a partnership with its most formidable partner, PharmEvo, for the development of world-class pharmacists. “We pray that our partnership with PharmEvo continues to reinforce our noble mission”, he hoped.

Chairman Premier Group, Mr. Ebrahim Qasim appreciated IHHN and Indus University of Health Sciences for championing the world-class health education in Pakistan particularly for pharmacists. “The pressing need for skilled and talented pharmacists in Pakistan’s fragile healthcare infrastructure cannot be overstated. Our society is in dire need of healthcare professionals who can make a tangible impact on the well-being of our people. “We are striving for the creation of a healthier society through industry academia collaboration, which is the need of the moment for the country”. Mr. Ebrahim Qassim said that PharmEvo is known in pharmaceutical industry as a pioneer in socially responsible organization. Our values of respect, trust, integrity, ethics and excellence are completely aligned with those of IHHN and the organization’s compassion has shone through its remarkable commitment towards constructing the Ibne Sina College of Pharmacy.

At the ceremony held on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at the Indus Hospital, Korangi Campus, other key members of PharmEvo management were also in attendance including Mr. Muhammad Haroon Qassim, Managing Director, PharmEvo, and Mr. Syed Jamshed Ahmed, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, PharmEvo. From IHHN, Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr. Abdul Karim Paracha, Chairman, Resource Generation & Partnerships Committee, Board of Directors, Mr. Salim Tabani, Member of the Board, Mr. Khalid Khanani, Mr. Tariq Shafi and Mr. Syed Mashhood Rizvi, Executive Director, Communications & Resource Development were also in attendance. Chancellor, IUHS and Ex-Chairman of the Board, IHHN, Mr. Siddique Sheikh concluded the session with a dua.

Indus University of Health Sciences

Apart from working to address the critical healthcare crisis in Pakistan, IHHN aims to address the equally critical lack of competent, compassionate and quality healthcare professionals across the country, widening its mandate to education and research along with healthcare provision. In 2015, the Government of Sindh granted the charter for the Indus University of Health Sciences. The University’s objective is to provide a socially responsible, evidence-based, and transformative education to healthcare professionals that is contextually relevant and equitable to Pakistan’s healthcare needs. The University will have seven colleges encompassing the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Midwifery, Family Medicine & Public Health, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation and Medical Technology & Allied Health. Currently, Indus College of Nursing & Midwifery, Indus College of Medical Technology & Allied Health, Indus College of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation and Indus College of Family Medicine & Public Health are operational. The remaining colleges plan to be operational once the construction of Indus University of Health Sciences at the New Hospital Building of the Indus Hospital Korangi Campus, Karachi is completed.