An-Najah National University’s main mission is to ensure the provision of quality higher education which will serve the Palestinian community. In aiming to benefit Palestinian society, the University has long been particularly interested in contributing to cutting-edge scientific research on both the local and international levels. 

A recent initiative of the University, the Bioequivalence Unit, plans to offer a unique service to Palestinian citizens. 

Dr. Amjad Iz-Addin, Director of the Poison Control and Chemical/Biological Analysis Center at the University and a specialist in medical sciences, commented on the role of the new Bioequivalence Unit: "Establishing the Bioequivalence Unit is important due to the public's belief that foreign drug products are better than local ones. Once the Unit is complete, it will start work conducting bioequivalence studies which will compare local and foreign drug products. Also, part of the unit’s studies of pharmaceutical products will look at concentration ratios for both generic and brand drugs.” 

Dr. Iz-Addin noted that the idea of the Bioequivalence Unit began in 1994 with the establishment of the Faculty of Pharmacy. Since that time, An-Najah has made considerable progress in the field of pharmacy, conducting a number of studies throughout the 1990s and founding The Drug Control and Biological and Chemical Analysis Center in 1999. Since its establishment, the Center has been working in cooperation with the Ministry of Health to offer drug analysis services. In order to build on its pharmaceutical research and services, the University launched a feasibility study in 2009, examining the possibility of founding a bioequivalence unit. Following the results of the study, in 2012, the University presented a formal application to the Ministry of Health to receive the first accreditation for a unit focusing on bioequivalence studies. 

According to Dr. Iz-Addin, a major reason for establishing the Unit is to supply pharmaceutical companies with needed bioequivalence information. In Egypt and Jordan, pharmaceutical companies are obliged to conduct bioequivalence studies, but such services are not available in Palestine.

The Bioequivalence Unit at An-Najah University will be the first of its kind in Palestine.  The University’s qualified pharmaceutical staff will manage the clinical and laboratory services to be provided by the Unit.  

Speaking about the establishment of the new unit, Dr. Rami Hamdallah, University President, noted, "Since its establishment, An-Najah has sought to serve the local community and to equip the Palestinian people with knowledge. The founding of the Bioequivalence Unit at the University is part of our keen interest in building the Palestinian community's health infrastructure and in building the institutions of the independent State of Palestine."

Dr. Hamdallah emphasized that the University Administration is ready to support the Unit as the Unit begins its work and that long-term the Administration will aim to help the Unit enhance its capacities.