RAK residents call for all-night pharmacies

Ras Al Khaimah: If you are in need of medication after midnight and live in Ras Al Khaimah you will soon discover there is not a single all-night pharmacy in the emirate.

Residents have urged the authorities to put in place at least one such pharmacy. Ali Fawaz Al Shehi, who lives in Khuzzam, said Ras Al Khaimah should follow the steps of other emirates which operate all-night pharmacies. He added no excuse can justify the failure to operate at least one pharmacy at night, especially with the emirate's increasing population — now estimated to be 300,000.

Al Shehi said the issue has been brought to the attention of the authorities but so far nothing has been done. However, Dr Sirajuddin Patel, a pharmacist at Al Dannan Pharmacy, said not so long ago there had been two pharmacies operating night shifts but a poor response from customers had resulted in their closure at night.

He said the authorities charge pharmacies double or even triple renewal fees should they apply to work 24 hours.

The licensing, registering and monitoring of the performance of pharmacies here is taken care of by the Medical District and the Department of Economic Development. Ali Ahmad Al Bloushi, who heads the Commercial Registration Division at the Department, said the issue of pharmacies operating night shifts was of key importance to the authorities.

"We have our own ways to monitor the pharmacies which appear on the night-shift list and fail to adhere to these lists. Every area in Ras Al Khaimah should have a pharmacy on night shift, but there are violations and breaking of the law."

The authorities have not received complaints from the public about this issue, he added.

Al Bloushi said the department did not charge pharmacies, clinics and hospitals extra to work 24 hours as people needed these facilities. He said department inspectors and their counterparts from the Medical District pay routine inspections to pharmacies to ensure their adherence to the relative laws.

"The number of inspectors does not cover the entire emirate," he added.

Meanwhile, a top Medical District official said pharmacies do not have the financial resources to meet the requirements of opening 24 hours a day. The official said the casualty sections at Saqr Hospital and Saif Bin Gobash Hospital can provide painkillers but no other kinds of medication at night. The official explained a pharmacy applying to open for 24 hours a day should obtain permission from the ministry which demands it has four pharmacists on its sponsorship which is very difficult for pharmacies here.

Convenient: 24-hour store in pipeline

The Department of Economic Development is set to issue commercial trade licences which will allow holders to operate 24 hours a day.

Department official Ali Ahmad Al Bloushi said the department will soon decide which businesses are to be granted the licences. He said the department had been holding meetings with the police to discuss which shops are to be given this type of licence.