Abu Dhabi: A ministerial decision to amend the regulation and monitoring of the prescription of narcotic drugs, as well as of controlled and uncontrolled drugs has been issued by Minister of Health Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais.
The new regulation classifies drugs into groups listed in the International Authority for Drug Control and Psychotropic Substances, in addition to all traded and listed drugs in the UAE.
The ministry said the decision came in response to recommendations made during the Health Council’s last meeting held under the chairmanship of the Health Minister, and attended by directors-general from the Abu Dhabi and Dubai health authorities, Sharjah Healthcare City, and representatives from the medical services in the Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior and the private health sector.
Dr Ameen Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing and Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Licensing Committee, said that the ministerial decision came following remarks made by patients suffering from chronic diseases and ailments.
As part of the ministry’s role to support patients and facilitate the job of both specialists and consultants, and in an effort to cut back patient visits to obtain their medicines, the ministry issued the decision in accordance with global practices and regulations of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Al Amiri emphasised that the decision will eliminate all faulty practices accompanying the disbursement of controlled substances and will enable patients suffering from chronic diseases to obtain their drugs according to doctor’s instructions.
Al Amiri added that the decision will also help reduce drug waste costs and repeat visits which he says can be a burden on both patients and health insurance companies.
