Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai (MS)
Dubai, Oct 16: An electronic approval form needs to be filled by all tourists and residents of UAE, if they want to carry medicines from other countries into UAE for their personal use. This information was given by a high-ranked official of the Ministry of health and prevention. This service was launched at Gitex 2018.
Through the introduction of this service the ministry will have more control and supervision in the approval of medicines that are being carried by passengers directly or indirectly while entering UAE.
In order to fulfill the requirement, one needs to activate this service by creating a profile on the website of the ministry. Then the relevant documents that are required for approval need to be uploaded. These will be reviewed and approved by the concerned ministry official within one working day. Subsequently, the medicines that are being carried by passengers will be checked at the entry ports of UAE by an inspector of the ministry with custom officials in tandem.
The form can be downloaded for free from the ministry’s website www.mohap.gov.ae.
The documents required for approval are the prescription of the doctor, Confirmation of a person's duration of stay and the details of passport and any other relevant document pertaining to the medicines.
Giving details on the service, Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, assistant under secretary for Licensing and Public Health Policy at the ministry said “It is now mandatory for all passengers entering UAE to get this prior approval from the ministry to carry their prescription-based medication, both controlled and regular. This is being done to control drug threats that hinder the economy and public health.”
Dr Al Amiri said that a special law is created by the ministry for importing medicines by passengers entering the country. The supervised medicines with a prescription are permitted for one-month entry. Other medicines with a prescription will be allowed for three-month entry. Any medicine that does not meet these requirements will be seized at the airport.
Various embassies are notified about the new health policies of UAE and have been asked to inform the passengers travelling from the respective counties to UAE to follow the procedure, to avoid any embarrassing and suspicious situations at the airport. The passenger should know the law of UAE, even if the medicine that is being carried is legal in their country of origin. No excuses will be entertained for importing medicines without a prescription or those which are categorised as drugs.
Dr Al Amiri advised travellers to check with their country’s health authorities whether the medicines contain any narcotic or psychotropic substances. The prescription should be duly attested by the competent official authorities according to the accredited assets to avoid any action from UAE authorities.
When questioned on the fears of passengers of stringent action, Dr Al Amiri said that if any passenger does not carry the prior approval form, the custom officials will seize the medication. No harsh action will be taken for not complying with the rule. “If the quantity of medicine is minute and of non-narcotic, the authorities will take a decision to allow it or not. In case of other kinds of controlled medication it will be strictly seized at the port of entry.”
"This move is part of the federal health ministry’s strategy to provide innovative, comprehensive and fair health practices comparable to international medical standards," added Dr Al Amiri.