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Health professionals can take UAE test back home

Healthcare professionals in 113 countries will soon be able to appear in the UAE Ministry of Health’s written licensing exams from their home countries online

Healthcare professionals in 113 countries will soon be able to appear in the UAE Ministry of Health’s written licensing exams from their home countries online, saving them thousands of dirhams in travelling and housing costs.

The ministry’s move, which will go into effect from March 1, will open up the UAE job market for health professionals who may be unable to afford frequent travels to the country in case they coud not pass the exams in their first visit.

Candidates will be able to submit their certificates and identity cards via ministry’s website for the exams and need to arrive in the UAE only for the interview, announced a senior health official.

“This system will make it easier for healthcare professionals to apply for work in the UAE,” said Dr Amin Al Amiri, CEO of Health Policies at the health ministry.

“Exam results will also be announced online following which the candidate can travel to the UAE for an oral interview,” said Dr Amiri while addressing an open meeting with pharmacists at the Sharjah Cultural Palace on Tuesday.

Unsuccessful candidates can reappear for an exam after a week while the UAE-based healthcare professionals can also appear for the exam at two HCT centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

For an expatriate to obtain a licence to work as a pharmacist in the UAE, a minimum of two years experience is required. Emiratis will also have to appear for an exam in the near future, hinted the official.

Talking about counterfeit drugs, the official said that new regulations will soon allow only four types of drugs to be re-routed through the free zones in the UAE. “Counterfeit trade affects the reputation of the country.”

He also said that under the upcoming pharmacy laws, Emiratis will be allowed to own only two pharmacies while companies with 20 pharmacies or more will be licensed as chain pharmacies. “Likewise, five hospitals will be allowed in a chain,” he said.

Dr Ahmed Al Zarooni, Director of Licensing, asked pharmacists not to sell drugs without prescriptions. “We have ‘zero tolerance’ for erring pharmacists,” warned Dr Amiri.

Medicines in the UAE are much costlier than in the region, admitted Dr Amin Al Amiri, hinting that drugs for chronic diseases would soon be made affordable.

Quoting results of a price estimation study undertaken by the ministry, Dr Amiri said: “Prices of some drugs are up to 80 per cent higher in the UAE than Saudi Arabia.”

The study involved drug pricing in six countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan and

the UAE. The price issue was raised by local pharmacists and agents who said that changes in the exchange rates of euro and dollar were causing massive losses. The last exchange rate was fixed by the ministry in 2008.

The ministry is currently negotiating with 20 countries to set up a system that would regulate the prices, said Dr Amiri without elaborating. Prices are fixed by the ministry and it is illegal for pharmacies to give discounts or overcharge.

Dr Amiri also said that the ministry’s new system allows registration of 5-6 generics of a product manufactured in the UAE and up to 10 for an imported drug.

“Do not use women to advertise medical products,” advised Dr Amin Al Amiri, asking medical establishments to rely on the quality of their products.

“This is against Islamic principles and in other religions as well,” he said. Giving examples, he said a patient would not seek treatment in a particular hospital just because it has been promoted by a female, but only if the quality of healthcare is good.

Dr Abdul Karim, Medical Director for the Private Sector at the ministry, asked pharmacists to display only those advertisements that had been approved by the ministry.