UAE's ministry of health cuts prices of 188 innovative medicines

The prices of 188 innovative medicines will be reduced with effect from January 1, 2016, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday.

'Seventy seven per cent of the medicines of which the prices will be slashed will include those for the central nervous system, 8 per cent for obstetrical and gynaecological diseases and urologic disorders, 5 per cent for lethal diseases and immune system depression, 4 per cent for ear, nose, and throat diseases, nutritional medicines and blood disorders, and 1 per cent for immune system disorders, vaccines and eye care,' Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector at the UAE Ministry of Health, and Vice-Chairman of the Drug Pricing and Registration Higher Committee, told a press conference yesterday to announce the sixth initiative for cutting prices of medicines.

He said that 27 global pharmaceutical companies and local, regional and international drug makers were involved in the initiative.

The first wave of drug price cuts included 565 innovative drug products, the second 115, the third 6,791 innovative and similar drug products, the fourth 207 and the fifth 280.

Al Amiri emphasised that the positive partnership between the Ministry of Health and the pharmaceutical industry would benefit patients greatly, particularly those infected with chronic, viral, neurological, cardiac and cancer diseases.

He stated that no pharmacy had violated the prices of medicines over the previous five initiatives.

Up to 2,500 private pharmacies are operating in the UAE which has more than 8,000 pharmaceutical drugs being registered with the Ministry of Health.