A new examination system is being introduced in Qatar for pharmacists and other healthcare practitioners in a clinical setting to assess how they would perform in a real-life situation.

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OBSE) would be made mandatory for all licensed pharmacists in Qatar, the SCH said yesterday.

This is part of a plan to upgrade the skills of pharmacists, who will play a bigger role with implementation of the national health insurance scheme.

“Currently the role of pharmacists is limited to dispensing medicines. In future, they will be getting a bigger role including the right to prescribe some medicines in certain situations. The new examination system is to assess if they are equipped with the required skills,” Dr. Jamal Rashid Al Khanji, acting CEO of the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) told The Peninsula.

QCHP is the body responsible for licensing healthcare practitioners. The official said that OBSE would be made compulsory for pharmacists as an additional requirement to the written (theory) examinations.

“We are in the process of developing the models for implementing the examination in Qatar. The pilot phase will involve pharmacists but later it will be extended to other relevant segments as well,” added Al Khanji.