Abu Dhabi: Incorrect medical prescriptions, leading to serious consequences and even fatalities seem common in the UAE, according to latest research, because of a lack of information about a patient's medical history and medication prescribed.
"I cannot blame the doctors. The system should provide doctors with information on the history of patients and the medicines they take," said Dr Rafiq Abou Shaaban, associate professor of pharmacy and an expert in drug-related problems at the Ajman University of Science and Technology Network in Fujairah.
His random research on doctors prescribing medicine to patients in public and private hospitals across the UAE shows that out of 1,000 prescribed medicines, about 16 per cent or 160 are deemed as "risky."
The Ministry of Health however, termed the research as "inaccurate," saying each hospital and pharmacy had a responsibility to fulfil regulations to ensure patient safety.
"All these statistics are not proven. You have to validate your research and have back-up for your data," said Eisa Al Mansouri, Director of the Drug Control Department.
He said the Ministry is implementing a system called the Drug Registration Pricing System which includes updating patient and medical information and making it easily accessible to relevant departments online.
A Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) official said incorrect prescriptions were prevalent all over the world, not just the UAE.
"One should be very careful when you show high numbers as 16 per cent because it could be alarming to the public."
