Aiming to promote joint cooperation and control online marketing for health products and service

In response to the erroneous practices that cast their shadows on the community, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) held a meeting with Ministry of Health to discuss means of enhancing cooperation to curb false medical practices and pin down online advertising for unofficial drugs.

The meeting was held at the TRA office - Dubai with the presence of Mr. Mohammed Gheyath, Executive Director of the Technology Development Affairs at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of Medical Practices and Licensing Section at the Ministry.

H.E. Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA Director General underlined the importance of the workshop saying: “TRA is keen on establishing permanent cooperation with Ministry of Health and is committed to provide all possible support in order to sustain the health and safety of the society. We coordinate the service providers (Etisalat& du) to block all websites that pose a risk on the community, including those that promote harmful practices or unofficial drugs.”

The meeting discussed the development and implementation of a mechanism that defines the roles of the TRA and the Ministry of Health in implementing the UAE Cabinet resolution No. 7 of 2007 concerning the online advertising of medical drugs. Both TRA and the MoH will join hands to stand against any entity or individual who may endanger public health.

The efforts of the ministry to control and monitor website that belong to unofficial medical centers were also addressed in the meeting.

TRA and Ministry of Health will activate their roles to face the harmful advertising scattered on the internet by setting up mechanisms and procedures that ensure the realization of the UAE Vision 2021.