Pakistan’s healthcare system is facing a serious crisis—most pharmacies and hospitals are running without qualified pharmacists, putting lives at risk. As experts gathered at the Medication Safety Conference in Karachi, the alarming shortage of trained professionals and the consequences of this gap were laid bare.
A troubling revelation was made during the Medication Safety Conference in Karachi, where experts disclosed that 95% of pharmacies and medical stores, as well as half of the hospitals across Pakistan, are operating without qualified pharmacists—raising serious concerns about the safety of the country’s healthcare system.
Dr. Saqib Ansari, Director of Medical Services at Alkhidmat, proposed introducing a one-year paid internship program for pharmacists to provide essential hands-on training. He stressed the importance of pharmacists in lowering mortality rates by helping doctors ensure medication safety.
Asim Rauf, CEO of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), reinforced this point, stating, “No hospital or pharmacy should run without pharmacists,” emphasizing that pharmacists are essential in preventing medication errors that could otherwise go unnoticed by doctors.
Alkhidmat Pharmacy Services Director, Jamshed Ahmed, also criticized the current situation, highlighting that the majority of pharmacies are being operated like grocery stores by untrained staff, leading to dangerous medication errors with potentially fatal consequences.
Abdul Latif Shaikh, former Director of Pharmacy Services at Aga Khan University Hospital, pointed out the risks posed by handwritten prescriptions. He explained that such prescriptions are often hard to read or misinterpreted by unqualified personnel, resulting in the administration of incorrect medications and causing serious harm to patients.
Shaikh Kaiser Waheed, representing the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), voiced concern over the ongoing shortage of trained pharmacists. He urged parents to encourage their children to enter the profession, stressing the need to address the growing gap in the field.
The conference also featured senior physicians like Professor Abdul Malik and Dr. Azeemuddin, who highlighted the critical role of pharmacists in improving patient care. They called for the mandatory staffing of pharmacies and hospitals with qualified pharmacists, believing it is vital to reduce medication errors and ultimately save lives.