News & Updates

MOHAP launches first-of-its-kind smart App

The Ministry of Health and Prevention “MOHAP” launched the first-of-its-kind smart application about pharmacovigilance under the name “UAE RADR”. The application has been developed in collaboration with Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency “MHRA”. UAE RADR is used for the complete management of pharmacovigilance including WHO’s UPPSALA monitoring center on the side effects of drugs, guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices which features the procedures required from the marketing authorization holders for drugs and medical products to ensure the safe use of its products in the country. 

 Through the implementation of this initiative, MOHAP looks forward to promote patients’ safety and drug safety as well, by using this smart application for regulating the reporting process about the side effects of drugs, in addition to fostering the capability of data analysis and consequently the acceleration of decisions taken and preventative measures, as well as curbing the phenomenon of fake drugs. 

 Also, this initiative aims to take benchmarks into account and to be acquainted with the international trends that can be leveraged in shaping policies, taking decisions, providing information and evidences which contribute to updating drug items in the drug formulary. 

 H.E Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said that UAE Vision 2021, UAE Centennial 2071, Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development – Excellence in Implementation, form a fundamental guide for MOHAP’ business, since those initiatives feature lots of basic pillars such as consolidation of the preventative aspect, development of the healthcare systems, attainment of safe drug use, consequently accomplishing a health system with world-class standards. 

 The strategic guidelines also include the general policies which have an impact on the work and activities of MOHAP such as the general policy for innovation. 

 “UAE has achieved the leadership in adopting pharmacovigilance system in collaboration with WHO. The initiative “strengthen the pharmacovigilance to achieve the safety of society” is consistent with the future directives of the country in the healthcare field and the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development – Excellence in implementation to ensure that all people enjoy healthy lifestyle habits and wellness. It also enhances the commitment to applying health legislations, provision of a national updated healthcare database, provision of open data and digital reports in order to take the decisions and to manage the healthcare services. The initiative is considered an important tool of  strengthening the pharmacovigilance and drug safety in the country as the system provides data which could be used in analysis and studies on the reported drugs which facilitates and accelerates the process of taking decisions and the necessary preventative measures,” Dr. Abdulrahman added. 

 “The initiative comprises three essential pillars, firstly, the link to WHO’s UPPSALA monitoring center which contributes to the automation of collecting data of drug side-effects reports through online reporting via the link available on the ministry’s portal. Furthermore, the automation of studying and analyzing data in order to identify which indicators are associated with drug safety. Also, the pharmacovigilance officers, at the ministry and local health authorities, are allowed to check the reportedly side-effects reports in more than 200 countries and to keep pace with safety indicators globally so as to take preventative measures to protect the society form drug hazards,” Dr. Al Amiri said. 

 Second pillar is the “UAE RADR” in collaboration with MHRA, UK. The application has a feature of reporting the drug side-effects in an easy way and with the involvement of society alongside healthcare professionals. The application, also, has brief statistics on the reportedly overall side-effects, which help ease the work of healthcare professionals. Dr. Al Amiri urged all people to download the application and use it in reporting the drug possible side-effects. 

 The third pillar identifies the national standards for pharmacovigilance and drug safety, duties and responsibilities of the marketing authorization holders for drugs and medical products to ensure the safe use of its products in the country. These standards have been tailored according to the best international practices (European Medicines Agency “EMA”, the International Coordination Conference and Arabic Pharma-covigilance Code).