A council has been set up to deal with all complaints about drugs sold in UAE pharmacies and investigate any tainted or defective batches. The Ministry of Health announced yesterday that the supreme council for pharmaceuticals will also oversee training of pharmacists and help the industry reach international standards. The council will work with companies, including manufacturers, to ensure standards are maintained, said Dr Amin Hussain al Amiri, executive director of medical practice, affairs and licensing at the MoH.
Opening a conference in Dubai on behalf of Humaid Mohammed Obaid al Qattami, the Minister of Health, Dr Amiri stressed the need for honesty from drug companies. The ministry recalled a locally made antacid on Wednesday after it was found to contain harmful bacteria. Inspectors at the manufacturer's plant in the Jebel Ali Free Zone claimed the company had committed "severe violations" by allegedly failing to carry out mandatory microbiology tests and falsifying safety data.
Dr Amiri said the pharmacy initiatives were being discussed with other Arab countries, pharmaceutical companies and specialised universities. He said one of the ministry's priorities was to strengthen the partnership between the private and public sector in medical services and pharmaceuticals to achieve better production and quality in health care, the state news agency, WAM, reported. relass@thenational.ae