Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi received in the Patriarchal edifice in Diman a delegation from the Council of the Lebanese Pharmacists Syndicate, headed by Captain Dr. Abdel Rahman Al-Marqbawi, and members of the Syndicate Council, on a visit to get to know each other and receive Al-Rahi’s blessing after the election of the new council.
The delegation presented to Al-Rahi the most prominent challenges facing the pharmacy profession and the pharmaceutical sector in Lebanon, foremost among which is the high number of pharmacy graduates compared to the ability of the labor market to absorb them, and the need to develop the laws regulating the profession, in addition to combating smuggled medicines and strengthening control over the quality of medicines and their conformity with specifications, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health and the concerned authorities.
The meeting also discussed the repercussions of the economic conditions on the health sector, and the necessity of directing students towards the specializations needed by the labor market, in light of the limited employment opportunities and the increasing number of graduates, in addition to the issue of youth migration and Lebanese talent.
Al-Rahi stressed the danger of Lebanon losing its human and scientific potential, stressing the need to secure stability, peace and job opportunities that encourage young people to remain in their homeland. He also stressed the importance of maintaining the connection of the Lebanese expatriates to their homeland and registering their children in Lebanon, pointing to the role of the Maronite Church in the countries of expansion in preserving identity and belonging and strengthening ties with the homeland.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Al-Rahi congratulated President Al-Marqbawi and the members of the new Syndicate Council, wishing them success in their responsibilities, and stressing the importance of the mission performed by the Pharmacists Syndicate in protecting the health of citizens and preserving the pharmacy profession.
For his part, Al-Marqabawi expressed his hope that Lebanon would regain its health and enter a period of peace and stability, which would reflect positively on various sectors, including the health and pharmaceutical sector.
