New Program to Manage Drug Shortage in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

The new drug shortage management program, through an online reporting tool will proactively monitor drug availability in all health care facilities, improve response to medically necessary situations and aid healthcare professionals to find alternatives for non available medicines.

Dr. Mohammed Abu Elkhair, Section Head, Drug & Medical Products Regulation at HAAD, said: “There has been growing concern over potential and actual drug shortages in Abu Dhabi. Drug shortages are frustrating for patients and health care providers. They can result in delay of a patient’s treatment or treatment discontinuity.”

The program is an outcome of a survey on drug availability which reviewed 7150 drugs and medicines. 40% of the surveyed items were reported to be unavailable. Of the 3003 unavailable items, those out of stock accounted for 56% while discontinued items comprised 44%.

As of May 1st, 2011, all drug agents, hospitals (SEHA and non SEHA) and community pharmacies in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are mandated to report drug shortages through the new online drug shortage reporting tool.

HAAD requested health care providers to devote considerable resources to identify available supplies, purchase products outside their usual supply chains, to use in place of those that are not available.

“When a medicine or drug shortage is reported through the system, HAAD will advise hospitals and pharmacies on available alternatives or will intervene when necessary to restrict the use of drugs in shortage, monitor its utilization and its resupply, facilitate borrowing among facilities and in more urgent high risk cases, make the drug or medicine available in the market,” Dr. Abu Elkhair added.

HAAD conducted training workshops on the new online drug shortage reporting tool in April, 2011, a number of logistics and pharmacy staff from various hospitals and major drug agents attended the workshop.