On Tuesday, North South University (NSU) hosted Pharma Fest 2019, a daylong festival that celebrates pharmacy education, and brings together students, notable academicians, and professionals from renowned pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare providers.
NSU Pharmaceutical Club has been organizing this annual event titled ‘Pharma Fest’ each year since 2010.
The program started with a welcome speech by Dr G M Sayedur Rahman, chairman, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, NSU.
The theme of this grand event was “Safe Medication, Healthy Generation” to shed light on the widespread role of pharmacists in the healthcare sector.
Major General Md Mustafizur Rahman, director general, directorate general of Drug Administration, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was present as the chief guest. Md Shajahan, member, Board of Trustees, NSU, was present as the special guest. Professor Dr Hasan Mahmud Reza, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, NSU, thanked all the guests were present during the programme.
After the inauguration ceremony, the guests visited the stalls.
They were fascinated by the innovative projects and creative activities of the students. Pro Vice-Chancellor (VC) of NSU (designate) Professor Dr G U Ahsan was present during the program.
In the keynote speech Major General Md Mustafizur Rahman said, Pharma Fest provides students a platform to exchange their views with pharmaceutical industry and academicians. He added, Government has taken a decision to appoint pharmacist in every hospital and there will be a law, that without a pharmacist there will be no pharmacy. During this time he mentioned, Government is working for providing safe medicine at affordable cost for everyone.
In the speech Md Shajahan said, Pharma Fest is a great event which provides a proper career guideline for the pharmacy students. NSU is delighted to arrange and celebrate Pharma Fest every year. He also mentioned that from now on, The Drug Regularity Authority should introduce a law to appoint a pharmacist in every licensed drag store which will ensure safe medication for everyone.
Dr G M Sayedur Rahman said, Pharma Fest helps to increase the creativity and leadership quality of pharmacy students. It aims to build a bridge between pharmacy students and pharmaceutical industry to produce future leader in this industry.
Professor Dr G U Ahsan said, In Bangladesh the demand for pharmacists are increasing. He added, NSU established Genome Research Institute to improve health of people in our region and around the world through advances in genomic medicine and NSU will establish Nanomedicine Center for inventing new medicines.
As a part of the festival, leading pharmaceutical companies in the country display their own medicines and healthcare products. Scientific stall exhibition, scientific poster exhibition and Pharma Olympiad are held during this period. In this year 25 groups of students of 17 universities were participated in the Pharma Olympiad. In the meantime, guests highlighted various aspects of the success of the Pharma Fest and thanked all the students coming from various universities including pharmaceutical companies and NSU in Pharma Fest.
This year the celebration was ended with the spectacular cultural program in the evening. Beautiful songs, dance, drama and fashion shows were performed by students of the NSU pharmaceutical department.
Apart from this, band team, ARTCELL, performed at the cultural programme of Pharma Fest.
Among others, deans of different schools, administrative heads, directors, faculty members, other senior officials and students were also present during this programme.
