New standards for Abu Dhabi pharmacies offering medicine home delivery

Home delivery service benefits elderly people or those with compromised immunity, amid the coronavirus outbreak

Pharmacies can apply for a licence to provide a medicine home delivery service if they meet new standards, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi says. Getty

Abu Dhabi's Department of Health have introduced new measures to regulate medicine home delivery services from pharmacies in the emirate.

The department - which regulates the healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi - announced the new standards on Monday.

Many pharmacies across the emirate already provide medicine home delivery for customers. It is of particular benefit to elderly people or those with compromised immunity, especially now, amid the coronavirus outbreak

The department said licensed pharmacies could apply for the service if they meet specific standards, including maintaining drug storage guidelines and ensuring all medicines delivered to patients are packaged and sealed properly.

Eligible pharmacies must provide "pharmaceutical services in a safe and secure environment" and maintain patient confidentiality, the department said.

To have medicine delivered, patients must provide the pharmacy a copy of the original medical prescription and proof of identification.

The department said it would set "clear guidelines and requirements to ensure the efficiency of all pharmaceutical measures when it comes to delivering medicines," reported state news agency Wam.

Pharmacies that successfully register to provide the service will be monitored and audited by the department to ensure health and safety procedures are implemented.