Dubai, UAE, April 4, 2017

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced that it has started implementing the Barcode system in all its pharmaceutical transactions in DHA hospitals and health centres.

The DHA is the first to implement the smart system in the UAE, which aims to ensure the safety of patients by giving each medicine a barcode, hence reducing the chances of any mistakes when dispensing medication.

The authority is implementing the new system in coordination with the biggest international companies that supply medication and by using the latest technology that the authority adopts in managing the health sector especially in the pharmaceutical department.

His Excellency Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of the DHA said that the authority spares no effort in achieving Dubai’s smart government goals adding that the authority is keen on implementing all the international healthcare requirements and standards especially when it comes to ensuring the pharmaceutical safety and medicine consumption.

Al Qatami stressed that the authority is witnessing a notable transformation in its systems and services thanks to the smart systems it is adopting thanks to the directives to the country’s wise leadership.

The barcode system provides comprehensive and intelligent solutions in the management of pharmaceuticals and drug dispensations, relying on the world's most widely used bar code system, GS1 Standards, which is implemented by the majority of international companies and pharmaceutical companies. The DHA made it obligatory for all pharmaceutical companies, agents and suppliers to supply pharmaceuticals with a barcode based on the GS1 Standards and 2D Data Matrix.

Dr Ali Al Sayed, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services Department at DHA said the department is overseeing the barcode central system to verify the barcode’s compliance with the approved systems.

He added that the barcode system is compatible with the EPIC system and the smart pharmacy systems. He pointed out that the system is the first step in a larger project that aims to ensure the supply chain and the safety of drugs supplied to the authority and to avoid any counterfeiting and cheating with drugs. He said that the authority will be working with GS1 in the next phase to ensure the safety of medication.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:
Mahmoud Al Ali 
Head of Media
Dubai Health Authority 
myalali@dha.gov.ae
+9714 219 7260

Kamakshi Gupta and Noor Nazzal
Communications Analysts- Media Dept.
Dubai Health Authority 
klgupta@dha.gov.ae 
nnnazzal@dha.gov.ae
+9714
2197455

About the Dubai Health Authority: 
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Humaid Al Qatami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority.

The DHA’s aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA’s mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.

In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.

The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff.  It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.

Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

© Press Release 2017