“This growth will lead to reduced import dependence, enhanced price stability, competitive pricing, and easier access to specialised medicines,” said Dr Mona Al Moussli, co-founder and managing director of PRA Consultancy.
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“However, affordability will also depend on factors like initial investment costs, regulatory oversight, and market competition,” she added.
The rapid growth of local medicine manufacturing and licensing in the UAE was significantly driven by the Covid-19 pandemic. Notably, the production of Hayat-Vax in Abu Dhabi, the first Covid-19 vaccine to be manufactured in the Arab region, marked a significant milestone.
“The UAE was one of the leading countries during Covid-19 to maintain medicine registration, market access, and regulatory operations. This was a peak time for the industry, and the world hailed the UAE for its efforts,” explained Dr Al Moussli.
Introducing AI into healthcare
Dr Al Moussli emphasised that the UAE is continuing to integrate advanced technologies like AI into its healthcare systems.“The country continues to provide smart services with advanced AI solutions. The next step is to implement these solutions in medicinal manufacturing. The AI systems and processes already in place will now extend to local production."
“We expect local production to increase by 40 per cent within the next year. The UAE government has also opened several free zone facilities, such as Kizad and Jebel Ali Free Zone, to boost local manufacturing," she added.
Growing number of factories
The UAE's medicinal manufacturing sector is divided into two main types of production- full manufacturing, which remains limited, and secondary packing. With more than 35 existing factories and additional ones in development, the sector is poised for substantial growth.
“The government is opening up the sector and providing substantial support and incentives for investors to establish local manufacturing businesses,” said Dr Al Moussli.
A recent example of this growth is Swiss pharmaceutical company Acino Pharma, which has opened new facilities in the UAE.
Dr Mariam Galadari, board advisor for UAE-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Globalpharma and former head of the Pharmacy Division at the UAE Ministry of Health, highlighted that government incentives and focus have contributed significantly to the rise in local manufacturing.
“There were only a few factories before, and now we have more than 35,” she said. Globalpharma, for example, produces a wide range of medicines, including treatments for hypertension, diabetes, flu, and vitamins. These medicines come in various forms, such as tablets, injections, drips, and eye drops.”
Increased local production
In response to emerging health challenges like Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) , Dr Galadari mentioned that studies are underway to develop effective treatments. She also pointed out that increased local production is improving "accessibility and affordability while maintaining high-quality standards".
"Being locally and regionally focused allows us to allocate resources more effectively to meet quality standards while keeping costs low," she explained.
For instance, Globalpharma has been able to dedicate special production lines to meet the demands of government tenders, ensuring the availability of medicines at affordable prices.
"In recent years, we have supplied medicines for hyperlipidemia, antihypertensive treatments, antibiotics, and antiallergic medications to local tenders in the UAE," Dr Galadari added, highlighting how local manufacturing is enhancing both supply and affordability.