ABU DHABI // A comprehensive service that enables on-demand delivery of medication from pharmacies to the doorstep is needed in the emirate, residents believe.
They say the service would help those who may struggle to leave their house, such as the bedridden, mothers who do not have home help, pregnant women and the elderly.
“I don’t think needing a medicine to be delivered to you is a luxury service,” said N M, an Abu Dhabi resident. “In some cases it is a necessity as not all emergencies require a hospital visit.”
The 32-year-old said there have been several occasions where a delivery service would have been of benefit.
“I have been put in this situation a lot when I was pregnant or even after giving birth,” she said. “It is not just me, but many of my friends and neighbours feel the need of having pharmacies deliver to your doorstep.”
Dr Emad Elbehisy, managing director of Modern Urban Pharmacy, in Electra Street, said his facility was one of the few pharmacies in the emirate that delivered. Dubai has many pharmacies that deliver medication.
However, those only dispensed over-the-counter items such as flu medication, antihistamines and some medication for chronic health problems. Dr Elbehisy said prescription-only medicines should only be administered with advice from a pharmacist.
Indian-expatriate Sithara Sethumadhavan said she would have benefited from a delivery service when her year-old daughter developed a fever last year.
The Dubai resident was visiting her parents in Abu Dhabi when her daughter became ill.
“No pharmacy was open in the area at 1am,” said Mrs Sethumadhavan. “I kept sponging her with normal water, but that isn’t easy with a cranky one-year-old in the middle of the night.”
A pharmacy in the area that would deliver would have been of great help, she said.
Yudith, a 38 year-old Indonesian resident, said that many mothers might find it difficult leaving their children behind at home to go to the pharmacy and, for some, taking taxis is an expensive option.
“Sometimes mothers are stuck with children with high fever and other children who are sleeping in the middle of the night,” she said. “At times your husband is not around and you don’t have a maid or nanny to watch the other children if you go to the pharmacy.
“Not all of us can afford a maid or nanny and not every woman in the emirate drives a car.
“We do need pharmacies that deliver.”
Reem Afridi, 21, developed an allergy earlier this year and had to rush to the hospital. However, the only medicine she needed was an antihistamine.
“There was no pharmacy open near my house and the ones that are there don’t deliver medicines anyway,” said the Pakistani-Lebanese university student. “I get allergies with the change of weather and I know how to treat it because I have had it for most of my life. Unfortunately my pills ran out.”
Sally Elshafei, 35, said that in her home country, Egypt, almost all pharmacies delivered. “Most of them are open 24 hours and they come home to test blood pressure and sugar level for free,” said the professional cake decorator. “We need 24-hour pharmacies here to deliver as well.”
Manzil Health Care Services recently launched a service where doctors can make home visits to people who either do not want or are unable to visit a hospital.
arizvi2@thenational.ae
