Claims that government hospitals are dispensing ineffective medicines are unfounded, said Ministry of Health spokesman Khaled Al-Mirghalani.

“The procurement mechanisms of the ministry are based on pure scientific foundations, with the participation of the medical elite,” said Al-Mirghalani.

“The selection process of medicines and drugs involves choosing those with the highest quality from their parent sources or from other international companies that the Saudi Food and Drugs Administration has licensed.”

SFDA procedures involve analyzing samples of medicines to make sure of their effectiveness before use. On the other hand, Al-Mirghalani revealed that pharmaceuticals are exerting pressure on doctors to report the ineffectiveness of certain drugs to achieve their own business interests.