Kuwait Pharmaceutical Association

The Pharmacist

A Meeting with Pharmacist.

Ahmed Al-Rashed for The Pharmacist Magazine

Profession of pharmacist is one of the most significant and essential functions in our lives

Conducted by: Dr. Ahmed Abu Sido

As a part of its distinguished meetings with Kuwaiti pharmacists, The Pharmacist Magazine meets with pharmacist Ahmed Al-Rashed, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Medical Health Co., who talks about his scientific and practical experience in this vital area, through which he managed to achieve his ambitions and goals to serve Kuwait, the pharmaceutical business and pioneer pharmacists who are recently dealing with medication of all kinds.

Within his opinion of the profession of pharmacy, Pharmacist Ahmed Al-Rashed states:

The profession of pharmacy is one of the significant and essential functions in our lives to support and assist patients, help them and provide them with pharmaceutical advice. This profession has positive effects in society.

Pharmacist Al-Rashed incited young people to enter the profession of pharmacy from the scientific, practical and commercial aspects, as this profession combine both, professional and commercial business.

• I incite young people to study pharmacy and enter this profession.
• I realized the significant role of the pharmacist to serve patients and contribute to their treatment.

He talked about his start of work after graduating from university “I was appointed to the government sector at the Ministry of Health in 2007, and then I moved to work in private sector in 2015” Al-Rashed stated.

“The private sector is an integral part of the government sector, as there is a large portion available in the government sector, such as important medications for patients suffering from chronic and acute diseases e.g. diabetes, pressure, heart and other diseases” He added.

Regarding his experience in commercial field, Al-Rashed pointed out:

I work for a pharmaceutical company specialized in the import of medicines and for a group of pharmacies.

Regarding his feelings of significance of studying pharmacy, Al-Rashed stated, “My father had the greatest favor for guiding and advising me to study pharmacy, as I did not know the correct direction for study. It was my father’s advice to study this great and interesting field. I felt its significance after graduation and working in this area.

I advise pharmacy students to focus on the scientific subject for its importance in society. This is an essential part to treat patients and provide guidelines and advice to them. This is no less important than other medical specialties.

He pointed out to the importance of the pharmacist’s work to serve patients and contribute to their treatment. “But I felt significance of the pharmacist greatly during the Coronavirus crisis and the total curfew” Al-Rashed added.

The pharmacist was the patient’s only safe harbor during the total curfew. I was providing them with medical and pharmaceutical consultations. At the same time, I deliver their medications myself to homes in different areas of Kuwait.

• I delivered the patients’ medications to their homes and I could feel the smiles on their faces.
• During Coronavirus crisis, I was providing patients with pharmaceutical consultations.

It was really an indescribable feeling when I saw the smile on their faces and their psychological relief. I felt the patients’ reactions of happiness and heard their encouragement and invitations to communicate with them and to realize these humanitarian and religious achievements that bring them happiness and smile and change the kindness of their faces upon seeing me.

Regarding the establishment of pharmaceutical factories in Kuwait, Al-Rashed stated:

We submitted request to the Public Authority for Industry to establish a pharmaceutical factory in Kuwait more than three years ago. We have been granted an initial approval for the same, but the issue lies in allocating an industrial land for the factory. So far, we have not received approval to allocate the land for the same.

Regarding significance of providing a pharmaceutical factory in Kuwait, pharmacist Ahmed Al-Rashed stated:

In the event of establishing pharmaceutical factories in Kuwait, drug security will provided. In addition, the national product contributes to increase of the national economy and employing the national workforce of pharmacists and chemists.

Regarding the role of Kuwait Pharmaceutical Association in serving pharmacists, Al-Rashed stated:

Honestly, the Association provides excellent scientific material in terms of scientific programs, conferences and the College of Pharmacy at Kuwait University.

The Association is concerned with implementing Law No. (30) of 2016 on cooperative societies to enhance role of the Kuwaiti pharmacist and amending the provisions of Law No. (28) of 1996 on regulation of the pharmacy profession and the circulation of medications, as well as the tendency of Kuwaiti pharmacist to open and manage his own pharmacy.

Regarding bases and success of opening a private pharmacy to achieve its commercial goals, Al-Rashed stated:

There are many bases for success of opening a private pharmacy, including the following:

• Choosing the location of the pharmacy where population density is available at the location.
• Choosing skilled pharmacists in the pharmacy.
• Providing all medications, nutritional supplements, cosmetics and medical consumables.
• Providing services to customers such as free home delivery and pharmaceutical and drug consultations.
• Opening social media accounts to present all that is new in the world of pharmaceutical medicine.

 

Pharmacy Forum with support of the National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises in coordination with Kuwait Pharmaceutical Association.

Pharmacist Walid Al-Shamri, Chairman of the Association’s BOD, honoring pharmacist Ahmed Al-Rashed

 

Pharmacist Ahmed Al-Rashed with Mr. Pierre and Mr. Alberto (Italian company) at Dubai Conference (Arab Health)

 

Pharmacist Ahmed Al-Rashed with Pharmacist Mansour Al-Sayegh in CPHI Conference, Frankfurt

Pharmacist Ahmed Al-Rashed with Pharmacist Ali Hadi in CPHI Conference, Frankfurt