Sami Abdel Raouf (Dubai)
The Council of Ministers approved the executive regulations of Federal Law No. 8 of 2019 regarding medical products, the pharmacy profession, and pharmaceutical facilities that allow a “visiting pharmacist from inside or outside the country” to practice the profession of pharmacy, according to specific controls and conditions.
The regulation that came in 40 articles sets the conditions for licensing the visiting pharmacist, so that a temporary license is issued to him to practice the profession. Under a valid license.
A copy of a certificate of good professional conduct issued by the health authority, proving his good behavior, and the absence of a judgment or disciplinary decision preventing him from practicing the profession of pharmacy or restricting his practice of it, must also be submitted, in addition to the approval of the authority he works for.
The health authority has the right to set any other conditions as the case may be, in a manner that does not conflict with the provisions of the law and its implementing regulations.
Visiting Pharmacist
Then the regulation dealt with the conditions and controls for the pharmacist “visiting from outside the country”, which are also 3 conditions, including submitting a certified copy of a certificate of good professional conduct issued by the country in which he works, proving his good behavior and the absence of a ruling against him preventing him from practicing the profession of pharmacy or restricting his practice she has.
He is obligated to provide evidence that he practices the profession of pharmacy in the country in which he works, and to submit a copy of the qualifications and educational certificates. The health authority may add any other conditions, or exempt the visiting pharmacist from outside the country from any of the mentioned conditions and controls.
The regulation permits the pharmacist to provide first aid, provided that he holds a certificate of training in that first aid and issued by an accredited authority in this field.
The regulation confirmed that it is not permissible to grant discounts from the prices specified by the ministry, and special prices may be set in the system of implementing a system for dispensing medicines from the health authority, according to the circumstances, or through health insurance programs.
Special prices may be set within the scope of the application of a system for the purchase of medicines by health authorities. In this case, medicines are dispensed to patients according to the value of the purchase price applied to the health facility.
The regulation indicated that without prejudice to what is stated in this article, pharmacies may be granted a quantity of medical products for free without the quantity granted exceeding the percentage determined by a decision of the Minister of the total quantity sold to the pharmacy.
grave breaches
The regulation identified 8 types of grave violations that require the closure of the pharmacy, provided that a decision is issued to temporarily close the pharmacy for a period not exceeding one month in the event of any of them being committed.
These violations include non-compliance with withdrawal and suspension decisions issued by the health authority, as the case may be, for some medical products, circulation of medical products purchased from unlicensed parties, the absence of the pharmacist in charge of the pharmacy, and the practice of the pharmacy profession by unlicensed persons.
As well as illegally dispensing controlled and semi-controlled medicines, and selling expired, fraudulent or smuggled medical products or for which no marketing approval has been obtained from the Ministry, if this is necessary, or if their validity date or any of the package data has been tampered with.
Serious violations include forging documents related to medical products, failure to comply with the health and technical conditions specified by the health authority, as the case may be, and repeat violations, in addition to practicing the activity before obtaining the final license.
The regulation pointed out that in the absence of the pharmacist responsible for managing the pharmacy, the owner must entrust its responsibility and supervision to another pharmacist licensed to practice the profession of pharmacy, such as another pharmacist located in the same pharmacy or in another licensed pharmacy, and within the limits of the same emirate.
This may be entrusted to a visiting pharmacist provided that the pharmacy has a pharmacist technician, and in all cases the period of absence should not exceed 3 months, whether continuous or intermittent during one year.
work area
Then the regulation talked about the field of activity of the pharmacy, where it is not permissible to take the pharmacy as a medical clinic or for any other purpose, and its work is limited to the following activities, namely: storing, displaying, dispensing and selling medical means for personal use, and measuring weight, height, blood pressure, temperature, or Checking the sugar by pricking or any other tests decided by the health authority, as the case may be.
The pharmacy can provide pharmaceutical education and awareness services to the person who visits to inquire about how to use medicinal products.
It is permissible to store, display, dispense and sell nutritional supplements, store, display, dispense and sell household insecticides, and sell cosmetics, personal adornments and perfumes.
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