February 23 2016, 13.05 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
Initiative offers low-price quality medicines for chronic diseases & supports local pharmaceutical companies
UAE, February 23, 2016 - The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has successfully achieved its goal of reducing the prices of almost 80 per cent of innovative pharmaceutical drugs through six initiatives that were launched since 2011 as part of its efforts to decrease the prices of nearly all innovative medicines by mid-2016. By establishing strategic partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies that have cut down the prices of their medicines, the Ministry has been able to bring down the prices of medicine in the UAE to become less or less like the pricing at the GCC level.
The announcement came through a statement by Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector and Vice Chairman of the Medical Licensing Committee. The statement reinforces the efforts of various government institutions to improve the nation’s health sector as well as the keenness of the Federal National Council to promote it.
Support ‘Emirati Industries’ in Manufacturing Innovative Medicines
Dr. Al Amiri stated that the Ministry has undertaken efforts to encourage the global pharmaceutical companies to manufacture pharmaceutical products in collaboration with local factories as a prelude to reducing the cost of shipping. This, in turn, contributes in lowering of drug prices significantly as well as extending the benefit of drug manufacturing technology to local companies. The production of innovative medicines locally will enable costing of these medicines to be at par with the prices in other Arab countries such as Turkey, Algeria and Egypt.
Strategic Partnerships with International Pharmaceutical Companies
Dr. Al Amiri also praised the effective and positive role played by global pharmaceutical companies in response to the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention initiatives to reduce the prices of medicines during the previous phase of the application of six initiatives as follows:
· During the first initiative on June 26, 2011, prices of 565 innovative drug were reduced between 5 and 55 per cent
· Effective from November 13, 2011, prices of 115 unprecedented drug were reduced between 5 and 35 per cent in the second initiative
· Effective from March 6, 2013 by the decision of the Council of Ministers, the third initiative reduced the prices 6,632 drugs class between 1 and 40 per cent
· Fourth initiative, effective from November 11, 2013, reduced prices of 192 drugs between 1 and 60 per cent
· Fifth initiative lowered the prices of 282 drugs between 1 and Xx per cent effective from 09/28/2013
· Sixth initiative effective from January 1, 2016 cut down prices of 142 pharmaceutical items between 1 and 50 per cent
Positive Cooperation with Pharmaceutical Companies Benefitted Patients, Especially Those with Chronic Diseases
Dr. Al Amiri also noted that this fruitful cooperation resulted in many positives, including benefits to patients, especially those with chronic, viral, neurological and heart diseases as well as various types of cancers, where they are required to take drugs either a lifetime or for long periods. Other benefits are as follows:
· Support patients, especially people with chronic diseases, including diabetes, blood pressure, and high cholesterol as well as viral and other diseases where patient needs to use drugs permanently and continuously
· Support the strategic partnership between the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and global pharmaceutical companies
· Reduce the prices of all varieties of medicines to reach the lowest price in the region
· Encourage investment in the private health sector through the creation of strategic partnerships that are built on trust, communication, transparency and community support
· Deep and direct impact in ensuring the provision of high standards and quality of pharmaceutical services at affordable prices within reach of all the UAE community
