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MoH mulling price cut for some drugs

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ABU DHABI — The government is likely to cut the prices of some of the medicines available in the local market, Khaleej Times has learnt.

Published: Wed 24 Oct 2007, 9:22 AM

Updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 4:53 AM

  • By
  • Nada S. Mussallam

“The Ministry of Health (MoH) is studying the possibility of revising the prices of drugs. Prices of some medications are likely to be reduced,” a senior official at the MoH told this reporter yesterday.

Drug prices in the UAE are considered high compared to other Gulf countries — a serious concern of a large segment of the expatriate population who cannot afford these medicines.

“The Pharmacy Supplies Department at the MoH is preparing a list of medicines with their prices and the currency (dollar and euro) rates at which they are purchased to be forwarded to the higher authorities for revision,” the official said.

In July, the MoH slashed the prices of 29 drugs, mainly antibiotics and anti-hypertension and epilepsy medicines.

However, prices of many essential drugs remain high and out of the reach for the common man even now.

“The main objective of the revision is to ensure availability of all types of medicines in the local market, smooth flow of pharmaceutical supply and averting monopoly,” said the official.



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