Background and Objectives: Compliance of community pharmacies with the proper practice of storage and dispensing of medicines is crucial for ensuring the quality and safety of medicines, particularly with the circumstance of recurrent electricity blackout in Libya. This study was aimed to assess the compliance of community pharmacies with the proper practice of drug storage in Tripoli city, Libya. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey conducted in November 2020 targeting a total of 56 community pharmacies in Tripoli, Libya. The questionnaire was adapted from the WHO Checklist for Good Storage Practices and included 41 questions organized under five sections: socio-demographics, pharmacist’s attitude toward the quality of storage practices, queries on environmental storage conditions, the quality of facilities in the community pharmacy, and queries on storage and pharmacy practices. Data were presented as descriptive statistics. Results: Out of the total 56 visited pharmacies, a total of 46 (82.1%) pharmacists participated in the study with one pharmacist being interviewed in every pharmacy. Results showed that 15% of employees reported variety of cleanliness regulatory depending on cutting off running water circumstances in Tripoli and other reasons. About 78.8% participants observed dust in shelves and over the drugs packaging, and 22% of the participant pharmacies’ drugs exposure to direct sunlight. Additionally, 72% of employee experienced high temperatures in the pharmacy during electricity blackouts, whereas only 48% of them experienced humidity. In addition, 91.4% had alternative source of electricity, 44.3% had a power backup connected to the refrigerators. Conclusion: The compliance of majority of the community pharmacies operated in Tripoli is below standard. There is still need to improve the storage practices in the community pharmacies by obeying with the regulatory standards as specified by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Libya.
Ahmed Elbadri M Atia(5-2021)

More Abstract This work shares Libyan experiences with medical education accreditation, as well as the challenges that the system faced in meeting the criteria of the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). WFME, which was founded in 1972, is an international organization concerned with the education and training of medical doctors. WFME was initiated on the initiative of the WHO and the World Medical Association (WMA) with the goal of reviewing bodies that accredit basic medical education. The worldwide task force on accreditation in medical education was founded in 2004 by WHO and the WFME. In the same year, 26 members from 23 countries representing all six WHO–WFME regions assembled to discuss how WHO and WFME could assist in the establishment of long-term accrediting systems to ensure high-quality medical education. By 2024, all candidates must obtain a graduation certificate from a program certified by an entity that meets WFME or other international requirements for an accrediting system, according to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. Thereafter, accreditation for all health training programs by 2020 was indorsed as part of the WHO’s Worldwide Strategy on human resources for health: workforce 2030 and was recommended by the WMA. In response to these regulations, the NCQAA has started to prepare “the National Standards Manual for Basic Medical Education” and further connect with all Libyan medical faculties to comply with these criteria, while linking with the WFME. This is based on the WHO endorsement that all countries to apply accreditation mechanisms for health training institutions by 2020. Now it is a time to call for a rigorous auditing system in addition to assessment mechanisms in order to warrant ongoing quality control, and the quality control agency should be self-governing of external encouragement and have only an academic agenda. Finally, all medical schools that have decided to be recognized by the WFME, must have strengthened their ability to face challenges and start adapting these regulations and standards. The construction of networks, alliances, and associations between Libyan medical faculties are encouraged as an efficient approach for implementing and obtaining this accreditation.
Ahmed Elbadri M Atia(11-2021)

The most common preparation of tocotrienols is the tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF). This study aimed to investigate whether TRF induced liver Nrf2 nuclear translocation and influenced the expression of Nrf2-regulated genes. Methods: In the Nrf2 induction study, mice were divided into control, 2000 mg/kg TRF and diethyl maleate treated groups. After acute treatment, mice were sacrificed at specific time points. Liver nuclear extracts were prepared and Nrf2 nuclear translocation was detected through Western blotting. To determine the effect of increasing doses of TRF on the extent of liver nuclear Nrf2 translocation and its implication on the expression levels of several Nrf2-regulated genes, mice were divided into 5 groups (control, 200, 500 and 1000 mg/kg TRF, and butylated hydroxyanisole-treated groups). After 14 days, mice were sacrificed and liver RNA extracted for qPCR assay. Results: 2000 mg/kg TRF administration initiated Nrf2 nuclear translocation within 30 min, reached maximum level around 1 h and dropped to half-maximal levels by 24 h. Incremental doses of TRF resulted in dose-dependent increases in liver Nrf2 nuclear levels, along with concomitant dose-dependent increases in the expressions of Nrf2-regulated genes. Conclusion: TRF activated the liver Nrf2 pathway resulting in increased expression of Nrf2-regulated cytoprotective genes.
Ahmed Elbadri M Atia(9-2020)