Pharmacy Ethics and Professionalism Course for Pharmacists in the UAE

What you will learn

• Identify the main UAE laws, regulators and standards that govern pharmacy practice, including Federal Decree-Law 38/2024 and the role of the Emirates Drug Establishment.
• Apply the statutory duties and prohibitions in Articles 73 and 75 of FDL 38/2024 to everyday pharmacy decisions.
• Explain the responsibilities of the pharmacist in charge and delegate tasks to pharmacy support staff safely.
• Assess prescriptions against Article 76, handle requests without a prescription lawfully, and manage substitution and prescribing errors under Articles 78 and 80.
• Dispense and record controlled and semi-controlled medicines in line with Federal Decree-Law 30/2021, FDL 38/2024 and DOH or DHA rules.
• Protect patient confidentiality and dignity at the counter and in shared electronic records, and recognise when disclosure is required.
• Recognise and manage commercial pressure, conflicts of interest, unlawful promotion and insurance fraud risks.
• Report incidents, medication errors and adverse reactions within UAE time limits, act on recalls, and disclose errors to patients honestly.
• Describe the medical liability, complaints and disciplinary routes that apply to pharmacists, with their key deadlines.
• Write a structured reflection that demonstrates insight and a credible plan for change.

Syllabus

11 sections, about 3 learning hours, 20-question final assessment

1. 1Pharmacy ethics in the UAE: role, law and regulators3 lessons

   • Why pharmacy ethics matters in UAE practice
   • The legal framework: FDL 38/2024 and related laws
   • Codes of ethics, CPD and licensing integrity
2. 2Statutory duties, prohibitions and the pharmacy team2 lessons

   • Duties and prohibitions under FDL 38/2024
   • The pharmacist in charge, delegation and clinical pharmacy
3. 3The prescription, the clinical check and substitution2 lessons

   • Valid prescriptions, medicine classes and supply without a prescription
   • Changing a prescription, substitution and prescribing errors
4. 4Controlled and semi-controlled medicines2 lessons

   • The legal rules: narcotics law, FDL 38/2024 and emirate standards
   • Misuse, diversion and compassionate practice
5. 5Counselling, consent, dignity and confidentiality2 lessons

   • Counselling, consent and respect for every patient
   • Confidentiality and health data in the pharmacy
6. 6Commercial pressure, conflicts of interest and honest promotion3 lessons

   • Commercial pressure, incentives and supplier relationships
   • Advertising, promotion and social media
   • Insurance integrity at the pharmacy counter
7. 7Medicines safety: errors, candour, pharmacovigilance and recalls2 lessons

   • Dispensing errors, incident reporting and candour
   • Pharmacovigilance, recalls, shortages and counterfeits
8. 8When concerns arise: complaints, liability, discipline and remediation2 lessons

   • Complaints, medical liability and disciplinary routes
   • Responding well: honesty, insight and remediation
9. 9Conclusion and key points1 lesson

   • Conclusion and key points
10. 10References and further reading1 lesson

    • References and further reading
11. 11Your reflective account1 lesson

    • Your reflective account

Course facts

CPD value

Approximately 3 learning hours (self-directed CPD, including knowledge checks, reflection and assessment)

Audience

Pharmacists, pharmacists in charge, clinical and hospital pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistant pharmacists licensed by MOHAP, DHA, DOH or SHA, in community, chain, hospital, clinic, warehouse and industry settings

Standards covered

Federal Decree-Law No. (38) of 2024 (medical products, pharmacists and pharmaceutical establishments); Federal Decree-Law No. (30) of 2021 (narcotics); Federal Decree-Law No. (4) of 2016 and Cabinet Resolution No. (40) of 2019 (medical liability); Federal Law No. (2) of 2019 (ICT in health fields); Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 (communicable diseases); Ministerial Resolution No. (14) of 2021 (Patient Charter); Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. (49) of 2024; DHA Code of Ethics ST-66 (2025), ST-21, ST-53 and HP-22; DOH Narcotics, Psychotropic and Semi-Controlled Medicinal Products Standard (2021), Policy on Integrity and Benefit Disclosure (2022), Incident Reporting and Management Standard V2 (2024) and Patient Consent Standard (2025)

Format

Self-paced, gated lessons with knowledge checks, UAE case studies and reflection

Assessment

20 scenario-based questions, 80% to pass (16 of 20)

Outcome

Certificate of completion and a written reflection for your professional development portfolio

Alignment

Supports reflection on the duties in FDL 38/2024 Arts 73–82; DHA Code of Ethics ST-66 Standards 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12; the DOH Policy on Integrity and Benefit Disclosure and controlled-medicines standard; and MOHAP pharmacy licensing requirements. Not approved by any UAE authority

Price

AED 449

Who this course is for

Pharmacists, pharmacists in charge, clinical and hospital pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in community, chain, hospital, warehouse and industry settings.

Written for professionals licensed by any UAE authority: MOHAP, DHA, DOH, SHA or DHCR. Where the rules differ, the course explains the difference.