Abu Dhabi revokes doctor's licence for violating controlled medication rules

The Abu Dhabi health authorities have taken disciplinary action against two doctors for breaching controlled medication regulations. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi revoked the licence of one doctor and suspended another due to violations such as incomplete clinical assessments, inadequate follow-up care, and missing medical records.

In some instances, the doctors failed to document the medical reasons for prescribing controlled medications. The health department's decision was made to safeguard patients and uphold medical rules and professional standards. The violations were discovered through routine inspections, digital monitoring, and coordination with other authorities.

The health department pledged to continue monitoring healthcare facilities and conducting inspections to detect violations and ensure adherence to the rules. Controlled medications are strictly regulated in the UAE due to the risk of misuse or dependence. These medications typically encompass strong painkillers like morphine and fentanyl, drugs for anxiety and sleep disorders, mood and behavior-altering substances, and certain ADHD treatments.

Only licensed doctors are permitted to prescribe controlled drugs in the UAE, who must provide documentation justifying the patient's need for the medicine. Healthcare facilities must strictly comply with all regulations, laws, and policies pertaining to narcotics, controlled, and semi-controlled drugs. It is prohibited to store, distribute, dispense, administer, or handle narcotics, controlled, or semi-controlled drugs without approval from the Ministry of Health and Prevention and Dubai Healthcare City Authority-Regulatory.