World Pharmacists Day 2025: Call for qualified pharmacists in hospitals to ensure patients’ safety

The Pakistan Pharmacists Association’s (PPA) Sindh chapter has stressed the need for trained and qualified pharmacists in all hospitals of the province to reduce medication errors, prevent adverse drug reactions and improve patient care.

Led by President Adnan Rizvi, a Sindh PPA delegation visited leading hospitals and pharmacy institutions across Karachi in connection with World Pharmacists Day 2025 to highlight the growing role of pharmacists in clinical decision-making and patient safety.

The delegation included Secretary Muhammad Bux Somroo, Joint Secretary Majid Hussain, Finance Secretary Adnan Latif, Press Secretary Farhan Ansari, and Executive Committee Member Dr Farrukh Rafiq Ahmed.

At the University of Karachi’s Faculty of Pharmacy, the delegation held discussions with Dean Prof Dr Muhammad Harris Shoaib and faculty members that focused on the new pharmacy curriculum, with calls for stronger dialogue to ensure its effective implementation and alignment with modern healthcare needs.

During their visit to the Darul Sehat Hospital, the team met Dr Sidra Aleem and her pharmacy staff, who showcased their systems for ensuring rational drug use, preventing dispensing errors and supporting physicians in treatment planning.

At the Liaquat National Hospital, Head of Pharmacy Services Harris Siddiqui underlined how clinical pharmacists were now integral to patient care, assisting doctors in drug selection, dosage adjustment and monitoring side effects.

The Sindh PPA leaders stressed that every hospital must have such expertise on board to safeguard patients. The delegation also visited the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), where Executive Director Dr Tahir Saghir acknowledged the pivotal role of pharmacists in reducing risks linked to complex cardiac medication.

He announced the NICVD’s plans for expanding clinical pharmacy services and setting up a dedicated clinical trial unit. Discussions at the Federal Urdu University of Art, Science and Technology and Salim Habib University reinforced the message of empowering pharmacists. At the Salim Habib University, the PPA leaders signed a landmark agreement with the Dvago Health to train pharmacists in diabetes management at the community level in order to addressing one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing health challenges.

“Pharmacists are no longer confined to dispensing medicines — they are guardians of patient safety. Having qualified pharmacists in every hospital is not optional, it is a necessity,” said the Sindh PPA president.