Revitalizing Pharmacy Education in Conflict Zones: Lessons From Arab Countries

Pharmacy education in several Arab countries has been affected by prolonged political instability and armed conflict, disrupting earlier efforts to modernize curricula and expand clinically oriented, patient-centered training. This commentary examines the impact of conflict on pharmacy education in 6 Arab countries (Sudan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq), with particular attention to curriculum disruption, faculty shortages, weakened infrastructure, and limited experiential training capacity. It discusses how conflict-related system fragmentation and academic workforce migration have constrained alignment with regional and international educational standards and impeded the preparation of graduates for evolving professional roles. The commentary further argues that postconflict transitions represent a critical window for educational reform and recovery. Key priorities for revitalization include strengthening experiential education, updating curricula to address population health needs, rebuilding academic capacity, and promoting regional collaboration among educational institutions and policymakers. Context-sensitive, coordinated strategies are essential to support the development of resilient and socially accountable pharmacy education systems in conflict-affected settings.