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People will soon be given online access to all pharmaceutical products registered by the Ministry of Health, in order for them to avoid health hazards that illegal drugs might pose, said a senior health official.

"Substance declaration and evaluation of drugs is part of e-pharma project that aims to secure availability of vital information concerning approved pharmaceutical products to the public via single portal," Humaid Al Shamsi, Assistant Under-Secretary for Pharmacy Supplies told Khaleej Times yesterday. He said the move will greatly reduce incidents of health hazards resulting from unregistered drugs, as well as end unlicensed promotion of certain types of drugs.

The official explained that the available data would cover warnings, side effects, labelling, active ingredients, first aid (in case of poisoning or serious adverse side effects) and the actual price of the drugs.

"The e-project will also facilitate entry to three other major fields: provisions for medicines registration, pharmaceutical products imports, consumption and forecast, particularly for narcotics and psycho topic drugs," said Shamsi,

He said the fourth area focuses on procedures related to licensing of private pharmacies.

He said e-pharma would undergo three phases, including instructions and guidelines phase or the publishing phase; interaction phase; and transactions phase.

"We will rely on information and communication technology in phase one, which consists of declaration of approved lists of drugs and guidelines and instructions about the areas of interests," said Shamsi.

He said the second phase will enhance interaction between service providers and recipients.

"The third phase will make drug registration, licensing and renewing licences for pharmacies, in addition to other transactions available online," he said.

The official underlined that the e-pharma project is a sub-project of e-government services that federal departments are embarking on in order to upgrade their performance.

"Discussion are underway at the ministry and e-company affiliated to Etisalat to finalise the e-pharma project prior to its submission to the cabinet for endorsement," said Shamsi.

Autor: Nada S. Mussallam

Quelle: Khaleej Times, 28.03.2005

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