Scenario of Manufacturing Pharmaceutical Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) in Pakistan

Small and medium enterprises of the whole world today, constitute more than 90% of the whole business entities throughout the world. Small and medium enterprises play a tremendous role in any economy like Pakistan as Pakistan is strategically located on the most important trade route between Asia and Europe. In Pakistan economy the manufacturing small and medium enterprises contribute more to the Pakistan’s economy. As the pharmaceutical industry in today’s world is an important and fundamental sector and is considered as a basic necessity in any locality of the globe. But one third of the whole population of the world at present do not access to the basic drugs of life. At the same time majority of the pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan comprise of small and medium enterprises and unfortunately face serious threats and simultaneously the empirical research in this sector is at initial stages

Reservoir Potential Evaluation of the Middle Paleocene Lockhart Limestone of the Kohat Basin, Pakistan: Petrophysical Analyses

The Lockhart Limestone is evaluated for its reservoir potential by utilizing wireline logs of Shakardara-01 well from Kohat Basin, Pakistan. The analyses showed 28.03% average volume of shale (Vsh), 25.57% average neutron porosity (NPHI), 3.31% average effective porosity (PHIE), 76% average water saturation (Sw), and 24.10% average hydrocarbon saturation (Sh) of the Lockhart Limestone in Shakardara-01 well. Based on variation in petrophysical character, the reservoir units of the Lockhart Limestone are divided into three zones i.e., zone-1, zone-2 and zone-3. Out of these zones, zone-1 and zone-2 possess a poor reservoir potential for hydrocarbons as reflected by very low effective porosity (1.40 and 2.02% respectively) and hydrocarbon saturation (15 and 5.20%), while zone-3 has a moderate reservoir potential due to its moderate effective porosity (6.50%) and hydrocarbon saturation (52%) respectively. Overall, the average effective porosity of 3.31% and hydrocarbon saturation of 24.10% as well as 28.03% volume of shale indicated poor reservoir potential of the Lockhart Limestone. Lithologically, this formation is dominated by limestone and shale interbeds in the Shakardara-01 well. Cross-plots of the petrophysical parameters versus depth showed that the Lockhart Limestone is a poor to tight reservoir in Shakardara-01 well and can hardly produce hydrocarbons under conventional drilling conditions

Organizational Performance and Entrepreneurial Orientation: The Intervening Role of Organizational Learning

Many past studies have examined the association between entrepreneurial orientation (E.O.) and organizational performance (O.P.). However, these studies have not adequately addressed the mediating roles of acquisition learning (A.L.) and experiential learning (E.L.) on organizational performance. Given this gap, we have developed a new model that contains six direct relationships, three mediating relationships, and one multi-mediating relationship. The focus of the study was on Indonesian Pharmaceutical SMEs. We have collected a sample of 365 respondents non-randomly. For statistical analysis, we have used Smart PLS version 3.2. The statistical analysis includes reliability, validity, and descriptive statistics. The results confirm that acquisition learning (A.L.), experiential learning (E.L.), and entrepreneurial orientation (E.O.) promote organizational performance (O.P.). We also found that entrepreneurial orientation (E.O.) impacts acquisition learning (A.L.) and innovative performance (I.P.) but does not affect organizational performance (O.P.). However, the results suggest that acquisition learning (A.L.) and experiential learning (E.L.) are positively linked. Our results also support all the mediating relationships

Exploring the Measurements of Organizational Performance: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Perspective

Measuring organizational performance is an important issue in today’s research scenario. The researchers use different approaches and measures in evaluating organizational performance. Researchers do not have consensus on the measures to be used for measuring organizational performance. The literature shows that both subjective and objective measures can be used to evaluate the performance of organizations of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This paper based on the measures used in previous researches have recommended measures for measuring the organizational performance.Keywords: Empirical Research, Measurement, Organizations, Performance, Subjective Measures, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)

Critical Success Factors for Pharmaceutical Firms: The Case of Pakistan

This study is to investigate the critical success factors for Pakistani pharmaceutical firms. This study conceptualizes knowledge management, image and control as the key indicatorsof critical success factors. This study collects the data from the lower-, middle-, and top-level managers in the pharmaceutical firms in major cities of Pakistan: Lahore, Multan, Islamabad. Thisstudy performs PLS-SEM in analyzing 100 responses obtained through survey forms. Results of the study indicate that knowledge management is the element that gives rise to confession, wage, promotion and the execution of unlike objectives that increase a general exposure of the all stakeholders. It achieves a pleasurable passionate state that frequently prompts a positive organizational performance and competitive advantage. This research puts light on the gaps found in adaptation of critical success factors in Pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan as compared to the developed countries in this sector

Global prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in 2015 : A modelling study

Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier LtdBackground The 69th World Health Assembly approved the Global Health Sector Strategy to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030, which can become a reality with the recent launch of direct acting antiviral therapies. Reliable disease burden estimates are required for national strategies. This analysis estimates the global prevalence of viraemic HCV at the end of 2015, an update of—and expansion on—the 2014 analysis, which reported 80 million (95% CI 64–103) viraemic infections in 2013. Methods We developed country-level disease burden models following a systematic review of HCV prevalence (number of studies, n=6754) and genotype (n=11 342) studies published after 2013. A Delphi process was used to gain country expert consensus and validate inputs. Published estimates alone were used for countries where expert panel meetings could not be scheduled. Global prevalence was estimated using regional averages for countries without data. Findings Models were built for 100 countries, 59 of which were approved by country experts, with the remaining 41 estimated using published data alone. The remaining countries had insufficient data to create a model. The global prevalence of viraemic HCV is estimated to be 1·0% (95% uncertainty interval 0·8–1·1) in 2015, corresponding to 71·1 million (62·5–79·4) viraemic infections. Genotypes 1 and 3 were the most common cause of infections (44% and 25%, respectively). Interpretation The global estimate of viraemic infections is lower than previous estimates, largely due to more recent (lower) prevalence estimates in Africa. Additionally, increased mortality due to liver-related causes and an ageing population may have contributed to a reduction in infections. Funding John C Martin Foundation.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Empirical Evidence on Concept of Knowledge Perspective in Construction Firms in Pakistan

Development and growth demand proper infrastructure, roads and sustainability of management practices with the organization. In order to negate any errors that come our way, Knowledge-based perspective helps in the long run. It states that gathering information, its efficient distribution and ability to market that information in order to gain competitive advantage and gain customers as a monetary advantage is one of the main perks of being in the 21st century. Constantly removing mistakes/errors from construction practices by acquiring information through a lot of means, via internet in case of customers or feedback or most off all-knowing competitors, their advantages, discrepancies, managing your disadvantages and enabling your team to go above and beyond into negating it, so that firm could raise their competitive advantage. This visionary attitude is what keeps companies sustainable and being competitive in almost all aspects with competitors. Innovation grows; new and improved products are produced as a result. To establish the proof for the idea, in this research a total of 100 companies are taken as a sample from KPK region of Pakistan

Nexus between Total Quality Management Practices and Construction Firms’ Performance in Pakistan

Construction industry of any country plays a dynamic role in the prosperity and development of that country. It contributes more than any other industry in the economy growth and stability. Continual improvement firm performance can be measured through quality of work and services they provide to customers. However, for companies to compete with each other as well as in global markets they must need to adopt such techniques which are applied in the developed countries. One of the techniques is the application and evaluation of total quality management practices. As, this technique is already applied in other sectors such as manufacturing, services, health and development in the developed countries. So, this study and its findings are based on measuring the effects of total quality management practices i.e., organizational leadership, policy, and strategy, customer focus and process management on firm performance based on employee satisfaction and timely completion of projects. To check and measure the impact of TQM practices 100 construction companies were taken as sample/ These TQM practices were implemented on C-2 category construction companies of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan registered with Pakistan Engineering Council. The findings of this study concluded that all the listed practices have direct and indirect effects on the enhancement of form’s performance