Dubai: The Higher Committee for Monitor and Review of Schedules of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances of the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) on Sunday held its second meeting in Dubai in order to step up efforts to curb the unlawful use of narcotics.
The meeting was chaired by Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri, MOHAP’s Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing and Chairman of the committee. The committee discussed, among other things, the process of prescribing and dispensing controlled drugs by a general practitioner.
It also discussed increased participation in the UN’s “Smart” programme to include more federal authorities. Broadening the participation of federal bodies in the programme aims to list all control drugs stated under the federal anti-narcotics department and recently monitored drugs.
The meeting highlighted the importance of developing and updating rules on medicines carried by travellers. The committee is also considering the classification of “Atomextine” used for hyperactivity as a semi-controlled drug.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, Federal Anti-Narcotics Department, National Rehabilitation Centre, Federal Customs Authority, Health Department-Abu Dhabi, Dubai Police, Dubai Courts, Dubai Health Authority, Sharjah Courts and Sharjah Police.
The meeting’s agenda included a number of other related topics within the framework of cooperation and coordination between all relevant authorities.
Other topics discussed included supporting participation in the Emirates Award for Combating Drugs and updating the electronic system for controlled drugs and psychotropic substances, so as to be an integrated system involving all state health agencies under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior.
The committee also discussed preparations to hold an international conference to combat medical fraud during the first quarter of 2019, sponsored by the Ministry of Health, with the participation of world organisations concerned with pharmaceutical fraud, World Health Organisation, United Nations, and federal and local authorities in the country.
