UAE ministry of health reduces prices of 205 Drugs

As part of the ministry's efforts to provide drugs with reasonable prices in the U.A.E.'s health sector, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health, has stated that the ministry has reduced the cost of 205 drugs for different diseases of which 14 are used for 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. He added that 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 drugs prices with other countries, especially new innovative drugs that are manufactured and produced by international drugs companies. The decision also coincides with the Ministry's transparency policy with its strategic partners to improve and provide the best health services. This response assures the cooperation and interaction with drug companies to support the goals and objectives of the Ministry of Health. In this context, Dr. Mohamed Salim Al Olama, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Health, stated that the analysis of drugs prices adopts 4 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 U.A.E. 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. Additionally, Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Medical Practices and Licensing stated that 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 U.S. 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 concluded.