The Ministry of Health launched its fifth initiative to reduce innovative and produced drugs in cooperation with the largest production drug companies. This was agreed during the meeting that was held between the Ministry of Health and the directors of international drugs companies, representatives of local factors and authorized agents in the UAE. The meeting was attended by 100 directors, authorized officials and experts in the drug sector.

Fifth initiative stems from the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Health and local and global drugs companies:

Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health and Licensing and Vice Chairman of the drug pricing and registration higher committee, stated that the ministry held a meeting with local, regional and international drug companies to launch the fifth initiative which selected the UAE as a regional hub in the Mediterranean and North Africa and establish offices to accommodate between 100-500 employees. The companies establish a logistic hub in a number of airports and free zones in the region especially the UAE; such a selection is a pride for all of us and reveals the confidence of regional and international companies in establishing these offices, noting that this could not have been achieved with the continuous support of the wise leadership of the UAE government to attract these companies and expand in their presence in the different emirates.

Dr. Al Amiri lauded the positive response of international drugs companies to the initiatives of the Ministry of Health to reduce the drugs prices. It is worth mentioning to know that the ministry has previously applied four initiatives to reduce drugs as follows:

• initiative one for 565 innovative drugs- (reduction between 5-55%) dated 26/6/2011.
• initiative two for 115 resembled drugs- (reduction between 5-35%) dated 13/11/2011.
• initiative three for 6632 innovative and resembled drugs (reduction between 1-40%) based on the cabinet’s decision dated 6/3/2013.
• initiative four for 192 innovative drugs (reduction between 1-60%) dated 13/11/2013.

Fruitful cooperation basically benefits all patients generally but chronic diseases patients specifically Dr. Al Amiri added that such fruitful cooperation benefit all patients generally and those patients suffering from chronic, viral and neuro diseases, cardio, cancers specifically. A patient either needs permanent or prolonged drug treatment. The positive aspects are:

• Patients’ support especially those suffering from chronic diseases (blood sugar, blood pressure, high cholesterol, viral diseases) and others which need continuous usage of drugs.
• Strategic partnership between the Ministry of Health and international drugs companies.
• Prices reduction of all innovative drugs list to be the least reduced in the region.
• Encourage investment in the private health sector through creating strategic partnerships that are based on confidence, communication, transparency and support of the society
• Direct influence in providing high standards and quality drug services with reasonable prices and affordable among the UAE society members.

Fifth initiative related to 422 drug items:

Dr. Al Amiri assured that the fifth initiative is related to 422 innovative drug items that are produced in 41 drug producing companies in Europe, USA and Australia.

Drugs prices in the UAE lowest in the gulf or equivalent to the least: The drugs price reduction system highlights the cooperation and volunteering initiative of these companies to reduce the drugs in varied proportions to be the least among the GCC region or equivalent to the least. Such an initiative commensurate with the investments of international companies in the UAE and supports the expansion of their activities.

Dialogue, transparency and open door policy: The companies expressed great support and response to the civilized action of the Ministry of Health through dialogue, transparency, open door policy and listening to their opinions and suggestions. It is expected that the fifth initiative for reducing innovative drugs to be implemented on 1/1/2015 after official approvals by all concerned parties.