The decision came into effect on November 1, 2015.

Under the purview of decision, the Authority will issue and renew licenses of pharmacies and pharmacy practitioners. The Authority will also conduct inspections and issue violations. Previously, these responsibilities were handled by both the UAE Ministry of Health and the Authority.

Starting December 1, 2015, new pharmacies and pharmacists will be required to register with the Dubai Healthcare City Authority, the governing body and regulator of Dubai Healthcare City .

Praising the UAE Cabinet decision, Her Excellency Dr Raja Al Gurg, Vice-Chairperson and Executive Director of Dubai Healthcare City Authority, said, "The decision will only strengthen our governance and improve our standards. At an implementation level, advances of such nature have efficiency advantages. At a strategic level, it unifies our approach in all aspects of regulation."

"As we progress in achieving the goals set out in the seven-year UAE National Agenda leading to the UAE Vision 2021, in which the healthcare sector features prominently, we must take the necessary steps to quality assure and to work on policies that will help us continuously assess, monitor and improve," added HE Dr Al Gurg.

The UAE Cabinet decision, built on the need to streamline licensing, will affect 15 pharmacies and close to 100 pharmacists in the free zone.

The Authority will conduct regular on-site inspections and ensure that pharmacy practitioners adhere to the UAE Pharmacy Law and its stipulated legal, ethical and administrative guidelines as well as the Authority's quality standards.

The decision is a welcome addition to our regulations, said Dr Ramadan AlBlooshi, Managing Director,Dubai Healthcare City Authority - Regulatory. "We are putting considerable efforts to ensure that the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals including pharmacy practitioners in Dubai Healthcare City are maintained," he said.

He explained that licensure of pharmacy practitioners is linked to continuing professional development (CPD). "Apart from issuing licenses, we will have a record of professional development activities. To renew licenses, all pharmacy practitioners must demonstrate a minimum 30 CPD credit points."

Throughout November, workshops will be conducted with representatives from DHCC 's pharmaceutical community to introduce the new process and highlight the governance benefits.

The Cabinet decision does not apply to pharmaceutical companies and their offices.