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- Dubai 04:27 05:45 12:20 15:47 18:49 20:07
The UAE’s Ministry of Health has reduced the prices of 205 drugs for treatment of various ailments, of which 14 are used in the treatment of diabetes.
The price reduction decision came as part of a series of meetings between the Ministry of Health and a number of local and international drug companies.
Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health, said a comparison study of all the drugs prices has been made with both neighbouring countries and worldwide manufacturers. The study showed the importance of balancing drug prices with other countries, especially new innovative drugs that are manufactured and produced by international drug companies.
Dr Mohamed Salim Al Olama, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Health, stated that the analysis of drug prices adopts four main factors: patient’s benefit, arrival of healthcare products easily and sustainable usage of chronic diseases drugs, promoting the role of leading drugs manufacturing companies in the UAE market, supporting partnerships between both public and private sectors and finding an adequate pharmaceutical and medical environment and a balanced high quality drugs market in the region.
Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Medical Practices and Licensing, said the pricing system in the Ministry of Health depends on the regular analysis and amendments of drug prices according to the latest updates in the drugs market such as prices of similar drugs and economic or social factors.
The new drug prices system achieved the required goals by applying the unification of the US exchange rate, profit margins according to the price categories and a voluntary initiative to reduce drug prices. Dr. Al Amiri added that the initiative led to the reduction in price of 14 diabetes drugs, in addition to 191 drug products for other diseases.
"Providing drugs at reasonable prices is one of the ministry’s priorities within its healthcare services. Through its strategic partnerships with local, regional and international drugs companies, the Ministry of Health has applied four initiatives to reduce drug prices since 2011," he added.
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