The Faculty of Pharmacy and the Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC) in collaboration with the Palestinian Pharmaceutical Association (PPA) have agreed to establish the first National Pharmacy Museum in Palestine.As a continuation of its role as a leader in the pharmaceuticals field, the College of Pharmacy and the PCDIC held a workshop with the PPA at the University delegation's office in Ramallah. The workshop was attended by Dr. Waleed Sweileh, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Dr. Ansam Sawalha, Director, PCDIC, Dr. Mahomoud Al-Salaymeh, Chairman, PPA, Dr. Saed Zyoud, Information Specialist in PCDIC, Dr. Samah Al-Jabi, member of the museum's preparatory committee. The workshop began with a talk by Dr. Sweileh who emphasized the importance and need for establishing the museum due to all the cultural, historic, and heritage-related meaning that it symbolizes. The museum will help preserve the cultural heritage of the pharmacy profession and the developmental stages that it has been through until now.
Dr. Sawalha pointed out the importance of such an establishment, and the fact that it will posses a historic and a scientific and a historic meaning. She also emphasized that the idea of establishing this museum was born from our believes in preserving and documenting our history, as well as, our ancestor’s contributions. Additionally, the museum will help transmit our civilization to those who will come after us. Dr. Sawalha mentioned that the museum will be the first of its kind not only in Palestine, but in the region, as well.
In his speech, Dr. Al-Salaymeh acknowledged the university’s distinguished role and pioneer position in promoting the nation. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration in order to achieve the goals sought. Dr. Al-Salaymeh declared that the PPA will do its best to execute this project by assigning sub-committees in all cities in Palestine to collect the materials that will be displayed in the museum. He also expressed his goal to keep Palestine at the forefront of the industry, especially considering that it hosted the “Arab Pharmaceutical Union” in Jerusalem many years ago.
The museum committee declared that there will be several other workshops in northern as well as southern Palestine in order to accomplish this very important task and give the opportunity to whoever wants to participate to do so.