Khaleej Times

UAE launches drug tracking system

- SM Ayaz Zakir ayaz@khaleejtim­es.com

The UAE has officially launched a national drug tracking system called Tatmeen, the region's first platform to track and trace pharmaceut­ical products.

The advanced track and trace platform was unveiled by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), the Department of Health-abu Dhabi (DOH), and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) during Arab Health 2023 where the three entities are participat­ing in the event under one platform called ‘Emirates Health.'

The system has seen impressive results even before the official launch as the platform tracked and traced nearly 1.2 million drug packages across the UAE. With this innovative system, the UAE is taking a significan­t step towards ensuring the immunity and security of its medical supply chains.

The state-of-the-art platform will significan­tly enhance control over all medicines circulatin­g in the country by creating a seamless electronic network connecting federal and local authoritie­s, factories, distributo­rs, pharmacies, and consumers. This will allow for vigilant monitoring and tracking of pharmaceut­icals, in line with national health plans for building a world-class drug security system. The platform will also help position the UAE as a recognised global innovator

in medicine supply safety.

The Tatmeen platform provides modern electronic tracking services for medicines and medical products and has been developed in partnershi­p with some major technologi­cal entities to enhance the reliabilit­y of the supply chains of pharmaceut­ical products.

Digital transforma­tion

Ahmed Ali Al Dashti, the assistant-undersecre­tary for the Support Services Sector, said that the platform is a top-tier national health project developed as part of the Ministry's ongoing digital transforma­tion efforts. It also comes in line with the government's directives to

digitise vital services and improve the quality and speed of service provision. “Tatmeen platform represents a significan­t change in the healthcare industry, incorporat­ing cutting-edge technologi­es and advanced equipment.”

Al Dashti added: “The platform offers comprehens­ive health and drug services to the public and enables the tracking of drug products through the entire supply chain on a single digital platform. This will certainly benefit society by making health and drug services more accessible and efficient.”

Ali Al Ajmi, director of the Digital Health Department, MOHAP, said that Tatmeen is an ideal example of the future-oriented steps taken by health authoritie­s to guarantee the quality and dependabil­ity of medicines, locally made and imported. “The platform adheres to the cutting-edge GS1 digital sequencing standards, imparting greater transparen­cy and trust in the pharmaceut­ical industry.”

Al Ajmi added that with cuttingedg­e digital sequencing techniques, Tatmeen tracks every step of a pharmaceut­ical product's journey, from its origin to its expiration date, simply by scanning a serial number. This joint digital platform is accessible through its website or smart app.

Over 3,500 diligent and dedicated employees have worked tirelessly to protect the medical supply chain while adhering to the highest health and safety standards. The platform has also provided training to 1,200 individual­s, equipping them to join the Tatmeen team, with 250 training hours completed over the past two years. Additional­ly, the platform has attracted 1,760 partners ready to collaborat­e and utilise its benefits.

The platform's operationa­l launch in 2020 marked a major milestone in the government's efforts to digitise vital projects and improve the quality of health services. The platform provides trustworth­y informatio­n on medicines, ensuring that medical and pharmaceut­ical products are safe for use.

 ?? ?? The first-of-its-kind system called Tatmeen tracked and traced 1.2 million drug packages even before its official launch. — supplied photo
The first-of-its-kind system called Tatmeen tracked and traced 1.2 million drug packages even before its official launch. — supplied photo

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