Drug prices will not be regulated

Drug prices will remain free of regulation, said Dubai Health Authority (DHA), which is in process of licencing healthcare professionals and facilities.

"Dubai is a free market economy," Essa Kazim, the authority's Director of Health Regulation, told Emirates Business.

"We are not going to be involved in fixing drug prices, we leave that to the market. We are responsible for licencing physicians and pharmacists.

"However, we will publish the prices of different services and monitor prices and quality standards so that the delivery of quality products at affordable prices is ensured."

He said although health insurance was compulsory the fact that employers paid for it meant that it did not cause any financial burden on employees.

DHA plans to complete the first phase of the licencing of physicians by June. The DHA became responsible for licencing healthcare professionals and facilities under Law No 13 that came into effect in July 2007.

"During the past year-and-a-half we have structured the DHA and streamlined policies and strategies for healthcare delivery," added Kazim.

"Currently, we are developing application software for licencing healthcare professionals.