Health Authority - Abu Dhabi to Regulate Antidote Stock Levels in Healthcare Facilities

Inadequate hospital stocking and the unavailability of essential antidotes is a worldwide problem with potentially disastrous for poisoned patients. A recent survey showed that only 10% of hospitals in the Emirate adequately stocked the 12 identified essential antidotes that should be immediately available at ER or any area where poisoned patients are initially treated.

Dr. Yasser Sharif, Section Head of Medication & Medical Product Safety and Head of Poison and Drug Information Center, said: “The timely use of antidotes is potentially lifesaving in certain poisonings, maintaining a sufficient stock of antidotes is the responsibility of any facility that provides emergency care. If a poisoned patient requires an antidote that is not stocked at a particular hospital, then either the patient must be transferred or the antidote must be obtained from another hospital.”

The new standard is set to maintain a minimum stock amount of each antidote at the ER that is sufficient to treat a 70 kg adult for the first 24 hours of admission for treatment.

Under the new standard healthcare facilities will be required to

• Report to HAAD o the antidote stocks level on a monthly basis using the specified reporting form.
• Establish policies and procedures for effective sharing of antidotes during stock shortages, with other healthcare facilities;
• Ensure that licensed healthcare professionals are responsible for prescribing and administering antidotes

The standard will act as an interim advisory guide for a period of six month and will become mandatory on 1 June 2011.

This standard applies to all HAAD licensed Healthcare Providers, Facilities with Emergency Services Departments and Professionals engaged in providing emergency care, in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
For more information, please refer to www.haad.ae/antidote_stock_standard