The Emirates Today monitored the practice of some pharmacists as a physician, prescribing medication for patients and dispensing it without a prescription issued by a licensed physician. The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi has confirmed the implementation of 3900 visits, as part of the program of periodic inspection and control visits to health and pharmaceutical facilities in the Emirate, since the beginning of last year until the first quarter of 2019, noting that it closed 18 pharmaceutical facilities I was warned 25, and arrested 14 pharmacists.

In detail, the paper received complaints about pharmacists exercising the competence of physicians, prescribing medications for patients, commenting on prescriptions and informing patients that there are better types of medicines, as well as promoting some pharmacists products of certain companies, and trying to persuade patients to buy additional drugs, supplements and vitamins.

Ahmed Obeid said: «Some pharmacists propose at the dispensing of the prescription additional types of supplements and vitamins, and they try to convince me that use along with the drug will speed up the process of healing and strengthen immunity», pointing out that he bought some of them and see his doctor, told him that he has nothing to do with his disease, and that "Too much vitamin D can cause side effects."

Iman Jamal pointed out that she consulted the gynecologist in a hospital, after the examination and analysis required, and the doctor wrote her a kind of paint in the prescription, and when dispensing prescription from a pharmacy close to her home, the pharmacist advised her to replace the paint with another better and imported and performs the purpose faster, and drew She pointed out that the paint caused her severe itching and had to see the doctor again, who asked her to stop using it immediately, because of the sensitivity of her body from it.

Saud Mohammed, Ashraf Ahmed, Omar Salah, Haytham Hamed, Nelly Wehbe and Mayar Ahmed, said that they are dispensing medicines and antibiotics without prescriptions, given the knowledge of pharmacists, as a result of their frequent reluctance, which created a kind of confidence, pointing out that the controlled drugs Only cough, congestion, cold, diarrhea, eye drops, and antibiotics used in the treatment of these conditions are prevented without prescription, especially since the patient has taken them before and has the desired result.

They referred their request directly from the pharmacist without referring to the doctor to know the type of treatment or antibiotics they need, where they have already had the same condition, which saves them at the time of the visit of the doctor and carry a percentage of detection and medicine, especially since the price of treatment required is always cheaper than the ratio Under the terms of their health insurance.

The doctors blamed patients who go to pharmacies, and ask for medicine, without referring to doctors, stressing that «the patient must see the doctor, who diagnoses his condition correctly, and then determines the medicine», pointing out that all types of antibiotics fall under the list of drugs banned without A prescription, but many pharmacists dispense it.

"Taking medication without a doctor's review is a great risk to the patient's health and future," said gynecologist Mai Mohammed. "Buying medicines from pharmacies without a prescription can lead to serious risks. The pharmacist who sold him the medicine without a prescription ».

The nose and ear specialist, Yasser Mahmoud, that many when feeling congestion in the throat go to pharmacies to ask for antibiotics, without consulting the doctor to determine the concentration and doses, and make sure that the pain they feel caused by congestion in the throat, or something else, pointing to Pharmacies sell most types of antibiotics without a prescription.

The doctors confirmed: Ahmed Sayyed, Asma Ali, and Manal Abdullah, that patients taking any medication should be under the supervision of a doctor, especially as prescribing drugs for the patient may need with the diagnosis to conduct some tests or radiation, in addition to the doctor's knowledge of the patient's medical history, to determine the appropriate medicine Pharmacists have a role in dispensing prescribed medications to patients, clarifying the number of prescribed doses, and they are not entitled to dispense alternative medications unless the doctor prescribes them.

In contrast, pharmacists confirmed that dozens of people request daily medicines without prescriptions, but they refuse to dispense any drugs that are not allowed to be dispensed without a prescription, pointing out that the diagnosis of diseases or the sale of medicines without a prescription, expose the pharmacist to the penalties that start warning, and may end with the withdrawal License to practice the profession in case of repetition.

The pharmacists said: Ahmed Nashat, Mohammed Fawzi, Bashar Suleiman, and Marwa Hassan: «Some go to pharmacies and ask for medicines from the pharmacist without a doctor's prescription, of repeated actions, but the pharmacists are committed to not dispense medicines only through prescriptions, except for some medicines allowed to be dispensed Without prescription, such as colds, colds, medicines and antipyretics. ”

They pointed to the existence of some products, such as vitamins and supplements, are universally recognized, and authorized to circulate locally, and do not result in collateral damage, and allowed to sell in pharmacies, and promoted by most pharmacists among the reviewers, especially since the rate of return to pharmacies is high.

Dr. Asma Al Mannai, Director of the Department of Health Care, said: “Since its inception, the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi has dedicated efforts to improve the quality of health services provided to the Emirate's population. It has become an integral part of the daily work system of the sector and its output, and the secret behind its success and excellence, which led to strengthen its position on the map of medical tourism ».

The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, in response to the questions «Emirates Today», it allows the pharmacist to dispense non-prescription drugs, but it is not allowed by law to prescribe and dispensing controlled medicines, which are not allowed to be dispensed only by a doctor's prescription, noting that it closed 16 A pharmaceutical facility, warning of 19 pharmaceutical facilities, in addition to the suspension of 11 pharmacists in 2018, while closing this year, two pharmaceutical facilities, and warned six pharmaceutical facilities, and stopped three pharmacists, stressing that they carry out periodic inspection campaigns on pharmacies, and receive complaints, and that Within the control mechanisms of China Mechanisms to ensure that they do not become a commercial project aimed at profit only, without paying attention to the ethics of the profession.

The Department stressed its endeavor to ensure that all health facilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi operate in accordance with the highest international standards and in accordance with the regulations set by them.In the framework of its strategy to improve the quality of health services and safety standards and patient experience, the Department works to monitor the work procedures and results in health facilities, in order to improve The quality of its services, noting that as part of its efforts to improve health services and improve the quality, has conducted periodic inspection and control campaigns on medical and pharmaceutical facilities, to verify the extent of compliance with health regulations and requirements.

The Department explained that when any violation is caught in any health or pharmaceutical facility, a special file is prepared to be presented to the Licensing Committee to take the necessary action, which ranges from the alarm of the pharmaceutical facility to its closure and the withdrawal of the pharmaceutical license.

Quality

The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi confirmed that the inspection visits conducted during 2017 and 2018 showed that more than 93% of the health and pharmaceutical facilities in the emirate adhered to the regulations and laws and requirements set by the Department, pointing out that it is implementing a program «quality» to monitor and evaluate the quality of health services The various health facilities in the emirate provide the population with a view to encouraging further improvement of services and achieving the highest standards of quality in the emirate's health system. The Department explained that the quality audit team is preparing a report for each visit, where it is monitored and recorded any points for non-compliance with the standards or any irregularities, and a copy of the report is issued to the facility, to do the necessary to rectify their situation, and is directed to provide the business plan to correct any errors Monitoring within a certain period determined by the gravity of the irregularities, and the quality audit team then a follow-up visit to ensure the completion of the necessary procedures to correct the irregularities mentioned in the work plan.

Doctors: Antibiotics of all kinds fall under the list of medicines that are not allowed to be dispensed without a prescription.

Diagnosing diseases or selling over-the-counter medicines exposes the pharmacist to penalties.

3900

Health inspection conducted by `` Abu Dhabi Health '' from the beginning of 2018 until the first quarter of 2019.