From day one, serialization and aggregation were mandatory for all imported and locally manufactured medicines. The scope covered every pharmaceutical stakeholder ,manufacturers, wholesalers, and pharmacies, under a #centralized and #vertical reporting model.
I had the privilege to witness the implementation journey closely, and it stands out as one of the most disciplined onboarding programs in the region.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞?
Structured Staging Before Go-Live
Stakeholders were given access to a full staging environment to validate connectivity and data flow.
Multiple integration options were enabled:
=UI portal
=API integration
=Mobile application
API-connected partners were migrated to production after successful.
Continuous Engagement Model
More than six months before enforcement, weekly two-hour meetings were conducted with all stakeholders, and up till now after implantation.
Open Q&A.
Technical alignment.
Real implementation troubleshooting through E-mail
Tailored Technical Framework
The onboarding journey was customized per stakeholder category through
=Manufacturers
=Wholesalers
=Pharmacies
Each received dedicated manuals,videos and technical guides aligned with their operational workflows.
Forward-Looking Reporting Logic
=#Tatmeen applied a forward-reporting model.
=All batches entering the UAE market after December 2022 are under mandatory reporting.
=Pre-existing stock remained outside the reporting scope.
Product Scope Covered
=Convenient medicines
=Non-registered products
=Free medical samples
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
The UAE continues strengthening its pharmaceutical governance framework.
Recently, Emirates Drug Establishment مؤسسة الإمارات للدواء was established , marking a significant structural step in federal drug regulation.
𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
Multi-Agent Requirement
A new regulatory mechanism obliges pharmaceutical companies to appoint more than one agent per medical product marketed in the UAE , enhancing supply resilience.
Partial Dispensing Policy
Under Circular No. 243/2025 issued by Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, partial dispensing of prescribed medications becomes mandatory starting January 1, 2026.
𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬:
Pharmacies must dispense exact prescribed quantities for individually packaged medicines (tablets, capsules, sachets).
Rounding to the nearest individual unit is allowed.
Exemptions apply to vaccines, biologics, moisture/light/temperature-sensitive products, syrups, creams, gels, effervescents, and calendar-packed medicines (e.g., contraceptives).