(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Ministry of Health and Prevention recently reduced the prices of 762 medicines, for health issues ranging from bacterial infections to cancer, it announced on Saturday.
With the new adjustment, the prices of 8,732 medicines have been brought down in total over six years, since the ministry began its series of price reduction initiatives in July 2011.
The ministry announced the price reduction, which was implemented on September 1, following collaboration with the international pharmaceutical company Sanofi Aventis. The move comes as part of the ministry's periodic reviews in cooperation with international companies to re-price medicines, in order to support patients and improve access to affordable medicines.
Dr Amin Hussein Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for public Health policy and licensing and vice-chairman of the higher committee for drug pricing and registration, said that the adjustments were done by calculating new exchange rates of foreign currency, along with amendments in the laws.
According to Dr Al Amiri, the products subject to price reduction treat various disorders including bacterial infections, joint pains, epileptic seizures, heart conditions, prostate cancer, diabetes, and breast cancer.
The ministry said it has coordinated with Sanofi Pharma and local agents to ensure that the new costs will be implemented across the country.
Dr Amiri said that this cooperation between public and private sectors has benefited all patients, especially those with chronic diseases, heart illness, and cancer, who require long-term treatment. "The price reductions will specifically benefit individuals with chronic diseases or cancer, who require long term treatment," he said.
He said that the ministry aims to encourage the private sector to invest in the local health system and forge new ties based on trust, communication, transparency, and community support.
Dr Amiri also said that encouraging international pharmaceutical companies to locally manufacture their products will significantly bring medicine prices. "This will not only give patients an access to affordable but innovative medicines, but also benefit local factories through technology transfer," he explained.
Many global pharmaceutical firms have set their regional headquarters in the UAE and each of them currently employs 100 to 500 employees. Their logistics hubs are mainly located in airports and free zones in the UAE, to support their operations here and in the Mena region.
The ministry will publish on its website and local newspapers a list of medicines with their new prices, to prevent any violations and to benefit all patients in the UAE.
KT Nano Edit Towards a healthier society
Why should high cost of drugs come in the way of healthy living? When prices of medicines are over and above the means of the patients they are meant to cure, it defeats the purpose for which they were created in the first place. Access to medicines is crucial. The government's rightful intervention in this space would go a long way in ensuring a healthier society and help it emerge stronger as a medical hub.
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