Role of pharmacy education and pharmacy practice in developing pharmacists as researchers in Egypt

Egypt's rapidly growing, and predominantly young population presents both opportunities and challenges for its healthcare system, particularly in addressing the rising burden of non-communicable diseases. Pharmacists, as accessible and trusted healthcare professionals, are well-positioned to support public health efforts, medication optimization, and chronic disease management. Despite the country's large pharmaceutical workforce and expanding pharmacy education sector, research engagement across the profession remains limited and fragmented. To address this gap, this commentary outlines key strategies aimed at strengthening research capacity and integrating the clinician-researcher identity across the pharmacy profession. These include revising admissions criteria for entry onto pharmacy educational programs, expanding research participation to community and hospital settings, enhancing research skills through training and mentorship, increasing access to funding and institutional resources, and formalizing national research initiatives to align with public health goals. Together, these measures propose a comprehensive and coordinated approach to advancing pharmacy-led research in Egypt. By embedding research into both professional practice and educational structures, Egypt can cultivate a more evidence-driven pharmacy workforce capable of contributing meaningfully to healthcare innovation, policy, and system-wide improvement.