The new pharmaceutical track and trace system is being adopted by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), a first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Focussing on quality and patient safety, it will monitor medication delivery throughout the full supply chain, from manufacturing (either in the UAE or elsewhere) to the point drugs reach the patient.
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The authority has already started negotiations with major manufacturing
and supplying pharmaceutical companies regarding the implementation of the
system. It is stressed that the track and trace system is aimed at combatting counterfeit
medication and enhancing accuracy and credibility when dealing with relevant
insurance claims. It would also allow better management of medication inventory
in the region.
Director General of the DHA, His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami,
underscored the importance given to the development of pharmaceutical services.
He pointed out that smart technologies and systems’ adoption for better management
and control of medicine distribution would ultimately improve the wellbeing of
patients.
The new system will be rolled out at the DHA’s facilities by
mid-2020, and used in addition to the barcoding system which DHA adopted in
2017 (again, first in the UAE’s healthcare system).
On top of the barcoding system, through which each medicine is
given a barcode to avoid mistakes when dispensing medication, DHA has launched
several smart
pharmacies for dispensing and prescribing medication through the system. The
implementation of smart pharmacies allowed to reduce processing time from 22.5
minutes in 2016 to 7.9 minutes in 2018 and increase the outpatient satisfaction
rate from 69% to 94% respectively.
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According to Dr Ali Al Sayed, the Director of the
Pharmaceutical Services Department at the DHA, the authority intends to further
increase the usage of the latest systems and technologies with the aim of
ensuring the patients’ safety and wellbeing.
The UAE government is also considering a set of new measures
to better regulate the pharmaceutical industry. As was reported
by The National in March, legislation
placing substantial fines and imprisonment for those caught selling counterfeit
medicine was under review.
Source: Zawya
Image source: iStock
