Safe Prescribing and Controlled Medicines Course (UAE)

What you will learn

• Identify the federal laws, emirate standards and codes that govern prescribing and controlled medicines in the UAE, and locate their current official text.
• Distinguish narcotic and psychotropic (CDa), semi-controlled (CDb), prescription-only, pharmacist-only and OTC medicines, and check a product's current class.
• Apply the Art. 40 conditions on who may prescribe narcotic and psychotropic substances, and the DOH supply limits by prescriber tier.
• Make and document prescribing decisions that meet the examination, clinical-need, off-label and telehealth requirements of UAE law.
• Write complete, unambiguous prescriptions and use the Unified Electronic Platform for Controlled Medications correctly.
• Describe pharmacy dispensing, record-keeping, reporting and inventory duties, and carry out a structured legal and clinical check.
• Recognise misuse, diversion and impairment, respond without stigma, and explain the confidentiality and voluntary-treatment provisions of the narcotics law.
• Report medication errors, discrepancies and adverse reactions within the DOH and DHA timeframes.
• Explain how complaints, investigations, precautionary suspension, penalties and grievances work for prescribing concerns.
• Prepare an evidence-based remediation plan and reflective account for a prescribing concern.

Syllabus

10 sections, about 2 learning hours, 20-question final assessment

1. 1The UAE framework for controlled medicines3 lessons

   • Why controlled medicines are treated differently in the UAE
   • The legal and regulatory map
   • How medicines are classified
2. 2Who may prescribe, and the prescribing decision3 lessons

   • Who may prescribe controlled medicines
   • The prescribing decision: examine, justify, document
   • Self, family, colleagues and pressure to prescribe
3. 3Writing and transmitting the prescription3 lessons

   • A complete and unambiguous prescription
   • Electronic prescribing and the unified platform
   • Duration, refills and continuity of care
4. 4Pharmacist checks, records and storage3 lessons

   • Pharmacy duties under the narcotics and medical products laws
   • The pharmacist's legal and clinical check
   • Storage, ward practice and discrepancies
5. 5Safe prescribing in practice3 lessons

   • Prescribing opioids, sedatives and other high-risk medicines safely
   • Medication errors and reporting
   • Travellers, visitors and cross-border prescribing
6. 6Misuse, diversion, dependence and impairment3 lessons

   • Recognising misuse and diversion
   • Dependence, confidentiality and voluntary treatment
   • Impairment and the professional
7. 7When concerns arise: regulators, penalties and remediation3 lessons

   • Violations, penalties and who imposes them
   • How a concern is investigated
   • Insight, remediation and safer practice
8. 8Conclusion and key points1 lesson

   • Conclusion and key points
9. 9References and further reading1 lesson

   • References and further reading
10. 10Your reflective account1 lesson

    • Your reflective account

Course facts

CPD value

Approximately 2 learning hours (self-directed CPD, including knowledge checks, reflection and assessment)

Audience

Licensed healthcare professionals in the UAE who prescribe, dispense, store or administer medicines: physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals licensed by MOHAP, DHA, DOH or SHA

Standards covered

Federal Decree-Law No. (30) of 2021 (narcotics, as amended); Federal Decree-Law No. (38) of 2024 (medical products and pharmacists); Federal Decree-Law No. (4) of 2016 and Cabinet Resolution No. (40) of 2019 (medical liability); Federal Laws No. (5) of 2019 and No. (6) of 2023; DOH Standard for Management of Narcotics, Psychotropic and Semi-Controlled Medicinal Products (2021); DHA HP-22 and HP-27 policies; Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. (49) of 2024; DOH and DHA incident and sentinel-event standards

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 DHA Standards for Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (evidence-based prescribing and scope of practice standards), the DOH narcotics, psychotropic and semi-controlled medicines standard, and the duties in Federal Law No. (5) of 2019 Art. 24 and Federal Law No. (6) of 2023 Art. 8

Price

AED 349

Who this course is for

Professionals who prescribe, dispense, store or administer medicines: physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.

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