Hunt on for dozens of lost addictive medicine prescription forms

Health Authority Abu Dhabi has asked all pharmacies to be on the lookout for prescriptions and doctor stamps that have went missing from a healthcare facility.

ABU DHABI // Pharmacists have been told to be on the lookout for dozens of prescription forms for strong and addictive medicines that have gone missing in recent weeks from a healthcare facility.

A pharmaceutical circular, issued by Health Authority Abu Dhabi (Haad), did not specify which hospital or clinic had lost or misplaced the forms but said the specialised blank notes could be filled for controlled drugs such as antidepressants, strong painkillers, sedatives and antipsychotics.

There are many controlled drugs in Abu Dhabi and in the UAE, from codeine, a sleep-inducing and analgesic drug derived from morphine; diazepam [Valium] and Fluanxol, drugs used for the short-term relief of anxiety disorders, to Aripiprazole, which is used to treat schizophrenia.

The alert from Haad, issued earlier this month, urged medical workers to revisit their records from August 10.

Any healthcare facility is to notify the Haad narcotics officer should they already have dispensed the missing prescriptions, or if the forms were presented at a pharmacy.

Haad said it had also been alerted to other missing items from a healthcare facility – three lost stamps carrying the names of Dr Mohammad Yousef Khalil, Dr Palanikumar Balasundaram and Dr Rajaa Abdul Salam Araif. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the stamps is asked to notify the authority.

Circulars alerting pharmacies to stolen or missing prescriptions are issued a few times each year.

The abuse of pharmaceuticals has become a major cause for concern worldwide.

According to the International Narcotics Control Board, prescription drugs as a category has moved up to second on the list of the most abused and trafficked types of drugs in the world.

The most common types of medications abused globally were opioids, depressants and stimulants, according to the United Nations office on drugs and crime.

Anyone with information should contact the Haad narcotic officer on 02 419 3648 or email [e-mail]. Alternatively, contact Haad Health Audit Section on 03 704 1153.