UAE students get a taste of pharmaceutical science at the Dubai Pharmacy College through a series of seminars and workshops

Dubai, UAE – June 22, 2023

Global healthcare spending is growing at 30 percent and reached US$10.06 trillion last year, which is about a tenth of the global GDP that last year reached US$101.6 trillion.

Total healthcare spending in the Middle East and Africa is growing at a higher rate – 42 percent – to US$279 billion, due to a lack of awareness of health issues, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle.

UAE healthcare spending is projected to outpace its GCC peers at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.4 percent to reach $30.7 billion by 2027 from $21.5 billion in 2022.

Per capita healthcare spending in the UAE is expected to grow from $2,041.3 (Dh7,500) in 2022 to $2,689.4 (Dh9,870) in 2027.

Greater public awareness of health issues, common diseases, and changes in lifestyle habits could help reduce the overall global healthcare spending that last year reached US$10.06 trillion and grew at a rate of 30 percent worldwide. This is about a tenth of the global gross domestic product (GDP) that last year reached US$101.6 trillion.

Total healthcare spending in the Middle East and Africa is growing at a higher rate – 42 percent – to US$279 billion, due to a lack of awareness of health issues, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle.

Healthcare spending in the UAE jumped 5.67 percent of the country’s GDP in 2020, up from 4.3 percent in 2019, according to World Bank. Healthcare spending by UAE residents is set to grow by nearly one-third in the coming years due to a rise in the aging population and more people suffering from lifestyle diseases, according to Alpen Capital’s latest report on GCC healthcare, which shows the per capita healthcare spending in the UAE stood at $1,992.1 (Dh7,300) in 2020, the second highest in the GCC.

The country’s healthcare spending is projected to outpace its GCC peers at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.4 percent to reach $30.7 billion by 2027 from $21.5 billion in 2022. As per IMF, UAE’s population base is expected to rise at a CAGR of 1.6 percent between 2022 and 2027. Therefore, per capita healthcare spending is expected to grow from $2,041.3 (Dh7,500) in 2022 to $2,689.4 (Dh9,870) in 2027, the report’s finding shows.

In order to address these and to develop an understanding of the depth of health risks and solutions, Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls launched a five-day camp that involves a series of intensive seminars and workshops for students to give them a taste of different aspects of medicine and pharma-related education.

The Summer Camp for girl students of 11 and 12 grades that kicked off on Monday, June 19, will continue till June 23, 2023, that will see participating students gain first-hand industry knowledge on how medicine is prepared, and how the medication works on health, possible remedies to certain health problems, benefits of herbal and natural medicine, beauty, cosmetics, etc that will end with a certificate award ceremony.

The faculty members of Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls are renowned experts, who train the students during the camp. The students stand to learn healthcare communication skills, pharmaceutics – cosmetics preparation like lipsticks and body lotion, compounding, and pharmaceutical preparation – mouthwashes, lozenge, pharmaceutical chemistry – exciting laboratory experiments using instruments. Natural product activities – testing purity (honey, olive oil, and perfumes) clinical pharmacy – medication dispensing activity using model pharmacy, medication safety using different home test kits and devices, and clinical skills and communication skills.

The camp was announced at the recently held interactive session with the academic leaders of various schools from all over the country. Participating students can win special prizes and scholarships. The camp is open only to girls.

Prof. Saeed Ahmed Khan, Dean of Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls, said that the 5-day camp is designed to inspire high school girl students as they explore pharmacy as a career option. Dispelling the myth that a pharmacist is limited to dispensing medicines in a community pharmacy, he explained that the pharmacists are the medication experts on the healthcare team.

“They work collaboratively with physicians and other healthcare providers to treat and prevent illness and to improve and monitor people’s health. Pharmacists’ professional training gives them full mastery of medication therapy, with the goal of improving a patient’s quality of life,” Prof. Saeed Ahmed Khan said.

“Pharmacists work in a variety of settings, including community-based pharmacies, long-term care facilities, hospitals, clinics, research labs, and the medical and pharma industry. Careers in pharmacy consistently rank at the top in many European Countries, the United States, and the Middle East, for salary, job satisfaction, growth opportunity, and work-life balance. The demand for well-trained pharmacists continues to grow, especially for women,” he added.

Elaborating on the details of the Summer Camp, Prof. Khan mentioned that the aim of the camp is to provide students with hands-on experiences and practical knowledge in various aspects of pharmacy. Students will engage in hands-on activities that introduce pharmacy practice and perspective on the numerous ways a pharmacist contributes to improving people’s health. With a nominal fee of Dh200, students enrolled in the camp. The fee includes course activities, materials, refreshments, lunch every day, and a certificate. Students have a chance to win many exciting surprise prizes and scholarships at the college.