Cooperation with the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, on the IqPharm project in order to create an environment suitable for the further development of Startups in the field of Digital Health. Namely, the creation of this environment requires educated, young staff, which is one of the goals of this ERASMUS project: "Innovating quality assessment tools for pharmacy studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina" / IQPharm.
PROBLEM:
Pharmacy programmes at public universities in BiH are in line with EU directives. However, their implementation is still not modernised and quality control and assurance measures are poorly developed. At the national level, BiH Partners hopes to achieve their harmonisation and improvement of standards through IQPharm, achieving the predisposition to propose a change in the regulations on obtaining pharmacists' licenses in accordance with EU directives 2005/36 and 2013/55.
ACTIVITIES:
The LabHub team supported the project team from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, when writing the project application in 2021. Trainings were held in creating a unique digital platform in Bosnia and Herzegovina that will serve to modernise and digitise the management and administration of professional practice for pharmacy students. Also, in accordance with the experience of experts in these trainings, guidelines were given for the development of new digital tools for improving education in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the introduction of innovative knowledge tests.
EVIDENCE:
Project application approved:
Accreditation is a formal proof of the ability of the assessed laboratory to perform activities in the field for which it is accredited according to internationally recognised standards. By introducing quality standards and confirming their successful implementation, the laboratory confirms the technical competence of its staff, the adequacy of equipment, as well as the objectivity and impartiality of the services it performs, thus proving its competence at the international level.
ACTIVITIES: Support in the process of accreditation of Verlab laboratory for inspection of medical devices with measuring function
For more than 6 years, Verlab has been acting as a control body for the assessment of type "A" compliance, and meeting the requirements of objectivity and impartiality in the areas in which it is appointed and accredited is an imperative in business. In 2021, the laboratory actively worked on finalising the accreditation process of all methods it uses in its work. In this regard, they asked LabHub experts for an independent evaluation of the established quality system according to the requirements of ISO 17020 international standard.
Given that LabHub offers consulting services to laboratories of this type, in early 2021, a series of online meetings were organised between Verlab employees and LabHub experts. On that occasion, our experts gave practical advice to Verlab employees regarding the established quality system and improving its efficiency. As a result of these activities, in mid-2021, the Verlab Laboratory successfully completed the process of expanding the accreditation area in accordance with the requirements of BAS EN ISO / IEC 17020 at the Institute for Accreditation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BATA).
The cooperation between these two organisations has not ended in these activities. Namely, during the working meetings, LabHub experts proposed product development to the laboratories. Namely, in its daily work, the laboratory uses an internally developed software environment that has market potential. In this regard, the experts continued to work with the Society to conceptualise this solution, which will soon be on the market.
Problem: Low research profile of young scientists from Bosnia and Herzegovina
During the definition of topics for their scientific works, young researchers and students in BiH encounter essential problems that prevent scientific research activity in general. One of the key problems is the non-existence or inability to access databases that could complete the scientific research process, but also the lack of mentoring in the activities of writing scientific papers.
ACTIVITIES: Mentoring in scientific writing
The beginning of 2021 was marked by the activities of educating young scientists from the University of Sarajevo and the International Burch University in writing scientific applications. This education aimed at improving the research profile of young scientists by publishing papers at the scientific conference: "International Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering in Bosnia and Herzegovina (CMBEBIH 2021)"
The training lasted 2 months, and more than 100 students participated in the training which resulted in the publication of almost 20 papers in the conference proceedings which is available here.
International Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering in Bosnia and Herzegovina (CMBEBIH 2021)