Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter)
Committee
Contact ISoP Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter)
ISoP Chapters
ISoP Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter)
On behalf of the ISoP Executive Committee and the Chapter Founding Group (ISoP Middle East and Egypt Chapters), we are proud to announce the official launch of the new ISoP Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter).
ISoP Chapter Executive Committee Elections 2026
The International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) is pleased to announce the results of the ISoP Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter) Executive Committee Elections 2026.
Following the close of the election process, ISoP is delighted to welcome the following members to the newly elected ISoP MENA Chapter Executive Committee for a three-year term, with the possibility of one consecutive renewal:
Members of the ISoP MENA Chapter Executive Committee 2026
ISoP thanks all candidates for their participation in the elections, recognizing their dedication and the valuable contributions they bring to the MENA Chapter.
The ISoP MENA Chapter operates in accordance with ISoP Chapter guidelines and is supported by an appointed ISoP Executive Committee Chapter Coordinator. The continued success of the Chapter relies on the active engagement and contributions of its elected representatives.
ISoP warmly congratulates the newly elected Executive Committee members and looks forward to their leadership and contributions to the ongoing growth and development of the MENA Chapter.
Felipe Villalobos
Chair, Nominations Committee 2026
Special Thanks to the ISoP MENA Founding Group
ISoP would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Founding Group — Thamir Alshammari, Mohamed A. Elhawary, Hadir Rostom and Manal Younus — for their dedication, commitment and invaluable support during the interim phase leading up to the election of the new MENA Chapter Executive Committee.
Their efforts were instrumental in supporting the establishment and development of the new ISoP MENA Chapter, providing continuity and guidance during this important transitional period.
We sincerely thank each of them for the time, expertise and commitment they have contributed to ISoP and the MENA pharmacovigilance community, and for helping to lay the foundations for the Chapter’s future success.
ISoP MENA Chapter Executive Committee Elections 2026
Important dates:
Mid-June – 1 July 2026: Call for nominations
1 July: New applications and membership renewals received and processed (deadline)
6 July 2026: Invitations to apply sent to potential nominees
24 July – 3 August 2026: Online voting period
Mid- August 2026: Announcement results website
Click HERE for more details about the Call for Nominations and timelines.
Countries included in this Chapter are
Algeria,
Bahrain,
Comoros,
Djibouti,
Egypt,
Iraq,
Jordan,
Kuwait,
Lebanon,
Libya,
Mauritania,
Morocco,
Oman,
Palestine,
Qatar,
Saudi Arabia,
Somalia,
Sudan,
Syria,
Tunisia,
United Arab Emirates, and
Yemen.
History
The regionalization of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) has supported the development of collaborative networks tailored to shared healthcare systems and pharmacovigilance priorities. In the Middle East and North Africa region, this was reflected in the establishment of the ISoP Middle East Chapter in 2015 by Mayada ELkhakany and Thamir Alshammari, followed by the establishment of the ISoP Egypt Chapter in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic by Hadir Rostom, Moataz Elwarwary, and Mohamed A. El Hawary. These milestones strengthened regional engagement by supporting capacity building, scientific exchange, and the promotion of medication safety practices across different countries.
The ISoP Annual Meeting 2025 Cairo marked an important step in reuniting pharmacovigilance professionals and facilitating the exchange of experiences across the region. Held during the 25th anniversary of ISoP, the meeting provided a valuable platform for renewed collaboration and regional alignment.
Building on this momentum, the new ISoP Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter) is established through the joint efforts of the current leaders of the ISoP Middle East and Egypt Chapters: Thamir Alshammari, Mohamed A. El Hawary, Hadir Rostom, and Manal Younus. Their shared vision has been to establish a unified platform that promotes best practices, strengthens regional cooperation, and advances pharmacovigilance systems across MENA countries.
The chapter serves as a hub for education, research collaboration, and knowledge exchange, aligned with ISoP’s global mission while addressing the specific priorities of the MENA region. Its establishment represents an important step toward enhancing patient safety and fostering sustainable partnerships across the region.
Objectives
We are committed to advancing pharmacovigilance and patient safety across the Middle East and North Africa region — including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Sudan — by fostering collaboration, encouraging innovation, and strengthening regional capacity. Through these efforts, we aim to:
- Foster strong regional collaboration among Pharmacovigilance stakeholders, enabling the exchange of expertise and best practices across MENA countries.
- Support the development and harmonization of Arab Pharmacovigilance guidelines, contributing to a more unified and effective regional framework.
- Strengthen national Pharmacovigilance systems by addressing country-specific needs and promoting sustainable development across the region.
- Enhance risk management practices among regulatory authorities and marketing authorization holders to ensure safer use of medicines.
- Promote the integration of Pharmacovigilance into public health programs, reinforcing its role in healthcare systems.
- Raise awareness of patient safety and Pharmacovigilance among healthcare professionals, patients, and the wider community.
- Encourage the reporting of adverse drug reactions and safety information, supporting a culture of vigilance and transparency.
- Advance education and capacity building through training programs, workshops, seminars, and webinars.
- Support and strengthen Pharmacovigilance practices within the pharmaceutical industry across the region.
- Build partnerships with regional and international organizations to expand impact and collaboration.
- Promote research and scientific excellence, including safety studies, registries, and publications.
- Proactively respond to emerging Pharmacovigilance needs, ensuring the region remains adaptive and forward-looking.
ISoP MENA Chapter Publications
- Sharing the Load to Strengthen Pharmacovigilance in the MENA Region
Published in Uppsala Reports
Date: 25 June 2026
https://uppsalareports.org/articles/sharing-the-load-to-strengthen-pharmacovigilance-in-the-mena-region/ - ISoP MENA Chapter: Strategic Development and Future Directions Following a Decade of Strengthening Pharmacovigilance in the Middle East and North Africa
Published in Drug Safety Journal
Date: 2 September 2026
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40264-026-01723-0
