Haad introduces standards antidote stocks

Abu Dhabi: The Health Authority — Abu Dhabi (Haad), the regulatory body of the health care sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has introduced standards for stocks of antidotes held at health care centres.

The standard is a guide so health care providers can ensure continuous, safe access to antidotes is maintained in all health care centres. Antidotes are used to counteract poisoning.

Inadequate hospital stocking and the lack of essential antidotes is a worldwide problem with potentially disastrous results for poisoned patients.

A recent survey showed that only 10 per cent of hospitals in the Emirate adequately stocked the 12 identified essential antidotes that should be immediately available in emergency rooms (ER) or any area where poisoned patients are initially treated.

Dr Yasser Sharif, Section Head of Medication and Medical Product Safety and Head of Poison and Drug Information Centre, said: "The timely use of antidotes is potentially life-saving in certain poisons, maintaining a sufficient stock of antidotes is the responsibility of any facility that provides emergency care. If a poisoned patient requires an antidote that is not stocked at a particular hospital, then either the patient must be transferred or the antidote must be obtained from another hospital."

The new standard is set to maintain a minimum stock amount of each antidote at the ER that is sufficient to treat a 70 kg adult for the first 24 hours of admission for treatment.

Under the new standard health care facilities will be required to report to Haad the antidote stocks level on a monthly basis using the specified reporting form.

They are also required to establish policies and procedures for effective sharing of antidotes during stock shortages, with other health care facilities.

And they should also ensure that licensed health care professionals are responsible for prescribing and administering antidotes.

The standard will act as an interim advisory guide for a period of six months and will become mandatory from June 1. This standard applies to all Haad licensed health care providers, facilities with emergency services departments and professionals engaged in providing emergency care, in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.