Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter)
Committee
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ISoP Chapters
ISoP Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter)

On behalf of the ISoP Executive Committee and the Chapter Coordinating 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).
As part of this launch, we will also proceed with the elections for the new chapter leadership in June 2026.
ISoP Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Coordinating Group
Thamir Alshammari
Coordinator
Mohamed A. El Hawary
Coordinator
Hadir Rostom
Coordinator
Manal Younus
Coordinator
ISoP MENA Elections 2026
The Executive Committee elections of the ISoP Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter) will take place online from 24 July – 3 August 2026.
The Executive Committee (EC) is made up of four officers, including the Chair, who is chosen by the newly EC members.
The ISoP Executive Committee elections of the ISoP Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter) guidelines and timelines are available here (updated document).
Candidates
We are proud to present the list of candidates standing for election to the ISoP Executive Committee of the ISoP Middle East and North Africa (MENA Chapter). We encourage all eligible members to review their profiles. Click on the link below to view individual statements from all candidates.
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.