The project included a situational analysis of pharmacovigilance systems and conducting a survey on their performance using the World Health Organisation's (WHO) key performance pharmacovigilance indicators. The study included Qatar's healthcare regulatory authority, public healthcare sector, private healthcare sector, healthcare-related higher academic institutions and local pharmaceutical industry.
According to Abeer, “This is the first mixed-method research study utilising the WHO pharmacovigilance key performance indicators conducted in Qatar and the Middle East and North Africa region."
The data collected from various levels of the healthcare systems were utilised to provide a baseline understanding of the pharmacovigilance system performance status in Qatar compared to the most up-to-date WHO and international pharmacovigilance standards and to identify the strengths, opportunities and limitations that can affect the development of pharmacovigilance systems, as well as to study the establishment and sustainability of a future national pharmacovigilance centre in Qatar.
The study included a number of recommendations such as the need to establish an organised national pharmacovigilance centre and implement strategies to streamline the national reporting system for patient safety and medication safety; ensure the development of internal capacities through the adequate inclusion of pharmacovigilance in educational systems; and implement active pharmacovigilance activities through multisectoral collaboration.
Finally, the research provided a proposed organisational structure for a national pharmacovigilance centre as a key improvement measure required for a comprehensive pharmacovigilance system.
Professor Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim, principal superviser of the project, emphasised that “the outcomes of this research can potentially serve to target the challenges and utilise the available opportunities to help improve the current pharmacovigilance situation and ensure effective system performance and adequacy. This is expected to result in the successful implementation of pharmacovigilance within the healthcare system in Qatar”.
Abeer mentioned that during her MSc journey, the primary superviser and research committee members from QU-CPH were "so supportive and essential for this research project's successful completion".
Further, Abeer said she was lucky that during her MSc study, QU has provided support for the research project by providing student grants and supporting the dissemination of this research at national and international conferences and in international scientific journals.