"The Pharmacy": Improving Medication Use and Adherence to Treatment
The Kuwait Pharmaceutical Association confirmed that its participation in the 84th International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) World Congress in Montreal, Canada, enhanced Kuwait’s professional and research presence through participation in the Federation Council, delivering a scientific lecture, presenting two Kuwaiti research papers, and signing the Montreal Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases.
Dr. Ahmed Taqi, President of the Association and head of the delegation, told KUNA that Dr. Bader Al-Kharaj, a board member and the Association’s representative on the Federation Council, participated in discussing, voting on, and adopting professional resolutions and statements addressing patient safety, therapeutic substitution, professional ethics, professional recognition, non-communicable diseases, and the governance of the Federation.
Taqi added that the Association’s signing of the Montreal Declaration reflects its commitment to supporting the prevention, early detection, and improved treatment of non-communicable diseases, as well as enhancing the pharmacist’s role in awareness, screening, supporting treatment adherence, improving medication use, and facilitating referrals, particularly for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental health.
He explained that he delivered a lecture titled “Updating National Legislation: A Comprehensive Bill to Develop Pharmaceutical Practice and Protect Professional Property in Kuwait,” in which he highlighted the need to update the Pharmacy Law issued in 1996 and its limited amendments in 2006, to better support patient safety, expand the scope of pharmacist practice, and regulate digital pharmacy and modern therapeutic developments.
The delegation also presented a study on public awareness and behaviors regarding antibiotics, prepared by Dr. Bader Al-Kharaj, Dr. Ahmed Taqi, Dr. Dana Al-Athari, Dr. Mustafa Al-Zughoul, and Dr. Esraa Al-Khassawneh. The study involved 360 participants and revealed that 51.4 percent incorrectly believe that antibiotics treat colds or the flu, while 41.1 percent reported engaging in at least one unsafe behavior. These findings support the need to standardize pharmaceutical counseling and study the adoption of a mandatory minimum standard for pharmaceutical advice when dispensing antibiotics.
Kuwaiti researcher Dr. Mona Al-Anzi participated with a research paper based on her doctoral thesis on developing a digital twin model for the Kuwaiti population to support precise drug dosing. The paper was presented on her behalf by Dr. Raj K. Singh Badhan. The research relied on records of approximately 2,100 patients and validated the model using monitoring data of five drug levels in 42 patients, paving the way for more suitable doses and treatments tailored to the physiological characteristics of patients in Kuwait.
Taqi stated that the Kuwaiti delegation held meetings with Federation leaders and representatives of member organizations to discuss partnerships in the fields of practice, research, and education, emphasizing that international participation aims to achieve actionable outcomes that contribute to the development of the profession and improve pharmaceutical care in Kuwait.
The Congress, held in Montreal from August 30 to September 2, carried the theme “One Health, One Pharmacy: Linking Science, Practice, and Education,” and brought together pharmacists, researchers, academics, and professional leaders from various countries around the world.
At the conclusion of the participation, the Association congratulated Dr. Wael Ali Al-Masri on his election to the Executive Committee of the Community Pharmacy Section of the Federation for the term 2026–2029, and on being awarded the Federation Fellowship for 2026, affirming that this achievement enhances the Arab pharmaceutical presence and professional cooperation among countries in the region.
