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Internal Regulations

Table of Contents
Chapter One: Definitions and General Provisions
Chapter Two: Organizational Structure of the Award
Chapter Three: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Chapter Four: Board of Trustees
Chapter Five: Scientific Review Committees
Chapter Six: Iraqi Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Chapter Seven: Nomination and Application Mechanism
Chapter Eight: Review and Evaluation Mechanism
Chapter Nine: Announcement of Results and Award Ceremony
Chapter Ten: Financial Provisions
Chapter Eleven: Final Provisions

Chapter One

Definitions and General Provisions

Article (1): Definitions
The following terms, wherever mentioned in this regulation, shall have the meanings assigned to them below:

  1. Group: Sawa Group.
  2. Award: Sawa Award for Pharmaceutical Research.
  3. Chair of the Board of Trustees: The head of the award appointed by Sawa Group.
  4. Board of Trustees: An independent scientific body in its decisions, formed through nomination by the Society and approved by Sawa Group.
  5. Review Committees: Specialized scientific committees responsible for evaluating submitted research, formed in each cycle.
  6. Society: Iraqi Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences.
  7. Applicant: The Iraqi pharmacist applying for the award.
  8. Cycle: The annual period of the award, lasting one year.

Article (2): Award Vision
The Sawa Award for Pharmaceutical Research aims to be a leading independent national platform supporting pharmaceutical scientific research, empowering Iraqi pharmacists inside and outside Iraq, and contributing to the advancement of the healthcare system in line with international standards.

Article (3): Award Objectives

  1. Enhance the quality of pharmaceutical research in Iraq in accordance with international standards.
  2. Encourage pharmacists to publish in reputable scientific journals.
  3. Support research with direct scientific and healthcare impact.
  4. Promote a culture of innovation and applied pharmaceutical research.
  5. Contribute to building a generation of leading Iraqi pharmacist researchers.
  6. Strengthen the link between academic knowledge and practical application.

Article (4): Covered Specializations
The award includes the following pharmaceutical fields:
• Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Industrial Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plants
• Applied Pharmaceutical Research and Clinical Laboratory Sciences relevant to Iraq’s needs

Chapter Two

Organizational Structure of the Award

Article (5): Organizational Structure
The organizational structure consists of:

  1. Chair of the Board of Trustees
  2. Board of Trustees
  3. The Society
  4. Scientific Review Committees

Article (6): Hierarchy
The hierarchical structure of the award is as follows: The Chair of the Board of Trustees is at the top, followed by the Board of Trustees as an independent supervisory and administrative body. The Society operates as an administrative, organizational, scientific, and executive body under the supervision of the Board of Trustees. It is responsible for forming review committees and submitting them to the Board for approval.

Chapter Three

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Article (7): Appointment of the Chair

  1. The Chair of the Board of Trustees shall be appointed by a decision of the Group’s Board of Directors.
  2. The term of office is two years, renewable once. It ends upon expiration, non-renewal, or resignation.
  3. The Chair must have experience in pharmaceutical, research, and administrative fields.

Article (8): Powers of the Chair

  1. General supervision of all award activities.
  2. Approval of general policies and strategic plans.
  3. Approval of final results of award winners.
  4. Approval of the annual budget.
  5. Coordination with the Society.
  6. Representation of the award in official and international forums.
  7. Ratification of Board decisions on appeals.
  8. Ratification of decisions to withdraw or withhold the award.
  9. Approval of international partnership agreements.

Chapter Four

Board of Trustees

Article (9): Formation and Decision-Making

  1. The Board consists of five members including a Chair.
  2. Members must be independent scholars and academics with integrity and impartiality.
  3. Members are nominated by the Society and approved by the Group.
  4. Term: two years, renewable once.
  5. Quorum: minimum three members including the Chair.
  6. Meetings: every 60 days or upon request.
  7. Members cannot apply for the award.
  8. Decisions are made by majority; the Chair has the casting vote.

Article (10): Responsibilities

  1. Setting policies and scientific objectives.
  2. Approving nomination and evaluation criteria.
  3. Approving review committee members.
  4. Ratifying committee recommendations.
  5. Ensuring fairness of evaluation.
  6. Reviewing appeals.
  7. Withdrawing or withholding the award when necessary.

Chapter Five

Scientific Review Committees

Article (11): Formation

  1. Formed by the Society and submitted to the Board.
  2. Members must be independent academic experts.
  3. No conflict of interest is allowed.
  4. Appointed upon Society proposal and Board approval.
  5. No committee may be formed outside the Society.

Article (12): Evaluation Criteria
Criteria are set in a separate guideline approved and updated by the Board.

Chapter Six

Iraqi Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences

Article (13): Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Nomination of Board members.
  2. Formation of scientific committees.
  3. Receiving and organizing applications.
  4. Coordination with applicants and reviewers.
  5. Preparing documents and reports.
  6. Managing the website and social media platforms.
  7. Archiving and documentation.
  8. Implementing Board decisions.
  9. Daily management of award affairs.
  10. Preparing periodic and annual reports.

Chapter Seven

Nomination and Application Mechanism

Article (14): Eligibility Criteria

  1. Must be an Iraqi pharmacist.
  2. Research must be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
  3. Published within the last two years.
  4. Applicant must be first, second, or corresponding author.

Article (15): Application Process

  1. Submission is electronic via the official website.
  2. Required documents: research copy, proof of publication, CV, proof of Iraqi citizenship.
  3. Application period announced annually.

Article (16): Withdrawal

  1. Applicants may withdraw before results announcement.
  2. Withdrawal must be submitted in writing to the Board.

Chapter Eight

Review and Evaluation Mechanism

Article (17): Review Stages

  1. Initial screening.
  2. Scientific review.
  3. Final review.
  4. Approval by the Board.

Article (18): Confidentiality

  1. All data is confidential.
  2. Reviewers’ identities are not disclosed.
  3. Disclosure by reviewers is prohibited.

Article (19): Conflict of Interest

  1. Reviewers must not evaluate conflicted research.
  2. Conflicts must be disclosed immediately.

Chapter Nine

Announcement and Award Ceremony

Article (20): Results Announcement

  1. Results announced after Chair approval.
  2. Winners notified officially.
  3. Results published online.

Article (21): Award Ceremony

  1. Annual ceremony is held.
  2. Includes financial prizes, certificates, and shields.

Article (22): Financial Awards

  1. Minimum $25,000 per category.
  2. Paid within 30 days.

Chapter Ten

Financial Provisions

Article (23): Funding
Funded by Sawa Group annual budget.

Article (24): Budget

  1. Prepared by the Board.
  2. Approved by the Group.
  3. Covers all expenses and rewards.

Article (25): Financial Oversight

  1. Internal auditing applies.
  2. Annual financial report prepared.
  3. Records are maintained.
  4. External auditor may be appointed.

Chapter Eleven

Final Provisions

Article (26): Conflict of Interest
Board or committee members may not apply during membership or for one year after.

Article (27): Appeals

  1. Appeals within 15 days.
  2. Submitted with justification.
  3. Decided within 30 days.
  4. Decision is final.

Article (28): Amendments

  1. May be proposed by Board or Group.
  2. Approved by the Group.
  3. Effective upon approval.

Article (29): Entry into Force

  1. Effective upon approval.
  2. Any conflicting provisions are repealed.