ISLAMABAD: The first meeting of the Board of Studies of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Services Academy (HSA) was held at the Vice Chancellor’s Secretariat, Prime Minister’s National Health Complex, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan.
The Health Services Academy is a degree-awarding institute of the Government of Pakistan under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination. With the establishment of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, HSA has expanded its academic horizons from public health education to strengthening pharmaceutical sciences and the pharmacy profession in Pakistan.
The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences is the second government institution in Islamabad, after Quaid-i-Azam University, to initiate the five-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) programme, marking an important development in public-sector pharmacy education.
Dean, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Dr. Tahir Aqeel, briefed the Board on key academic, curricular, teaching, practical training and administrative matters related to the Pharm-D programme. Following detailed deliberations, several important recommendations were approved.
The Board reviewed the Pharm-D curriculum, academic standards, practical training, teaching methodologies and research activities, emphasizing the need to align pharmacy education with contemporary scientific and professional requirements.
The meeting was attended by CEO DRAP Dr. Ubaidullah Malik; Professor Dr. Tahir Aqeel; Professor Dr. Usman Minhas, Dean Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sargodha (via video link); Sardar Shabbir Ahmed; Dr. Abdullah Khan, Registrar HSA; Professor Dr. Faryal Jahan; Dr. Madiha Khalid; Dr. Asma Bukhari; Dr. Usman Abid; and Dr. Shakia Khan.
Participants emphasized that quality education, practical training, research and professional competency are essential for producing pharmacists capable of effectively contributing to Pakistan’s healthcare, pharmaceutical and regulatory sectors.
The approved recommendations were termed an important step towards establishing a modern, professionally oriented and high-quality academic framework for the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at HSA.