A team of Robert Gordon University (RGU) scientists hosted a major health conference in the Middle East this spring.

Lecturers from the university’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences organised a patient safety conference which was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Doha, Qatar on 22nd and 23rd April.

More than 300 delegates attended the two-day event which was aimed at pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy academics and students in Qatar.

The inaugural conference was a joint project between RGU, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Qatar University and, funded by the Academic Health System of HMC.

Dr Moza Al Hail, the Executive Director of Pharmacy at HMC and a visiting professor at RGU was instrumental in driving forward the event.

Professor Derek Stewart from RGU chaired the scientific committee, which also included RGU Pharmacy Lecturers Dr Scott Cunningham and Dr Katie MacLure.

Professor Donald Cairns, Head of RGU’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, gave the opening addresses alongside colleagues from Hamad Medical Corporation and Qatar University.

Organisers arranged for 30 speakers and group work facilitators who guided delegates through the event as they shared ideas and best practice from across the region.

Other RGU Pharmacy lecturers Dr Vibhu Paudyal, Alyson Brown and Dr Brian Addison were also involved in organising different sessions of the event.

Professor Stewart said, ‘The patient safety conference was a resounding success and encouraged greater collaboration between pharmacy professionals from different organisations to further improve patient safety.

‘Our workshops focused on highlighting the role of pharmacists in patient safety, medication safety and other issues and were greatly received by the delegates.

‘Working with our partners in the Middle East we’re able to share best practice which will help improve patient care across the board which is what we are all aiming to do.’