e-System to monitor drug disbursement

Major-General Abdul Jalil Mahdi, Director of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics at the Dubai Police, said that this step was taken as per the directives of Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-In-Chief of Dubai Police, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. The new system will put in mechanisms for dispensing drugs to patients who are undergoing psychiatric treatment. It will also prevent any abuse by doctors or pharmacists in the disbursement of these drugs. The programme will also ensure patients can’t manipulate their prescription to get higher doses.

Dr Amin Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing ( Executive Director) at the Ministry of Health, expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Dubai Police for its role in serving the community andfor ensuring the safety and protection of children from all negative phenomenon that may disturb their lives. Dr Al Amiri was speaking at a meeting in the presence of Brigadier Mohammed Saeed Bakhit, Director of the General Department of Electronic Services of the Dubai Police and the Team Leader for the programme; Colonel Khaled Saleh Al Kuwari, Deputy Director of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics; and a number of department managers and specialists at the Ministry of Health and the Dubai Police.

During the meeting, anumber of officers and administrativeteam members ofthe General Department of Anti-Narcotics had briefed the department heads and audience about the new system which is designed to monitor psychiatric clinics and doctors working in the state, as well as pharmacies dispensing narcotic drugs. Also discussed was thesystem’s capability to review basic data and the types of anaesthetics that are disbursed throughout the state, the names of patients undergoing treatment with these medicines and the medical reports of each patient, including personal information and illness.

Dr Amin Al Amiri expressed his admiration and commended the programme, as well as the pioneering role of the Dubai Police in strengthening its cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Health. He also noted that the ministry has exerted effort inthis regard and aims at providing a programme fordispensing control thatwould beapplied in all hospitals and clinics in the state, including the 1,156 hospitals and clinics and 2,000 pharmacies in the Northern Emirates.

He said: ‘Such a system would control dispensing of medicines to patients in a centralisedmanner and leave no possibilities for doctor or pharmacist to control it, as the server is located in the Ministry of Health, and the system does not accept anymanipulation of information.’ — amira@khaleejtimes.com3