Dr. Ansam Sawalha, the director of the Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), participated in the 26th International Congress of the European Poison Centers and Clinical Toxicologists that was held in Seville, Spain from 6 to 9 May.  The Congress was attended by toxicologists from all over the world.
Many topics were discussed such as occupational toxicology, unintentional poisoning, self-harm, prevention of poisoning in children, latest recommendation regarding antidotes animal poisoning, role of regulations in helping the poison centers, ethical and legal issues regarding poison centers activities, antidote stocking and hospital readiness to treat poison cases, on-line poison information, poisoning resulting from utilizing complementary medicine, herbal products toxicity, animal-induced toxicity, the new pesticides and expected outcome and toxicity, and new regulations regarding chemical labeling.
Dr. Sawalha also participated in the first meeting for the Middle Eastern committee for toxicologist that includes few toxicologists that are in this region.  The countries that were represented in this committee were: Palestine, Iran, morocco, Kuwait, and UAE.  This meeting was organized by members from Harvard University.
Dr. Sawalha gave a briefing about the PCDIC, its goals, function, duties, staff, challenges, and future vision.  Due to the scarcity of toxicologist in the Middle East, the attendees agreed on establishing a centralized poison center in which all participants share the software, data, forms, collection methods, research, training, and education.  Additionally, all agreed that the ministries of health should play a more active role in helping the poison centers achieve their goals in protecting public health and promoting awareness, and preventing poisoning. Dr. Sawalha is the first member of the board committee of the Middle Eastern toxicologists.  This comes shortly after the PCDIC has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), a step that many older centers did not achieve yet.