Prescription of controlled drugs goes digital in Saudi Arabia

Cairo: Saudi health authorities have launched a new system for the electronic prescription and dispensing of narcotic, psychotropic and controlled drugs, replacing a paper-based system.

Unveiled by the Saudi Ministry of Health, the new system is based on a national platform for the prescription, dispensing and control of this type of medication.

The step is part of the digital transformation in the Saudi health sector. The platform operates to govern the proper prescription and dispensing of narcotic and psychotropic drugs in all health facilities, be they governmental or privately owned across the kingdom.

The electronic system is set to strictly monitor and follow up on narcotic, psychotropic and controlled drugs, thus boosting safety for their users. A beneficiary of these digital prescriptions can also access them electronically and download them via the government app “Sehhaty" in PDF format that leads to enhancing regulatory coordination at health facilities across the country, reported the Saudi newspaper Okaz.

In addition, the e-prescription for narcotic, psychotropic and controlled drugs enables health practitioners to check the history of relevant prescriptions.

It also allows tracking the dispensing of this type of drugs through pharmacies licensed to dispense them, whether governmental, community or private, and establish an electronic linkage between all health facilities to achieve integration in a unified health platform.

The transition from the paper system to digitalization is part of the Ministry of Health’s efforts aimed at boosting the quality of health services across the kingdom.