BinSina to carry out basic medical check-ups

The health ministry has authorised a pharmacy chain in the UAE to carry out basic medical tests on customers.

BinSina Pharmacy will issue a report card that tells customers if their blood pressure is within the normal range or whether they are overweight. Their cholesterol and blood sugar levels are also noted in the report.

The process, which costs Dh15, takes only 15 minutes.

"There's no direct advice. The most we are allowed to tell them is ‘you need to see a doctor' or ‘you're fine'," said Marketing Manager Ayman Hanbali.

The pharmacy will also maintain an electronic record of its customers' medication.

An attending pharmacist is alerted if a customer's prescription carries ‘contra indications' with regard to an earlier purchase or if it is likely to cause an allergy.