The higher national committee for drugs registration and pricing at the UAE Ministry of Health has approved 126 new treatment drugs of which 15 are innovative and five biological.
About 105 other generic medicines from national, Gulf and international factories also received approval.
Dr. Amin Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing and acting chairman of the committee said the committee approved these new drugs taking into consideration their availability to satisfy the needs of patients and pharmaceutical security in the UAE.
These drugs are used for the treatment of various diseases such as tumors, diabetes, high blood pressure, MS sclerosis, allergy and arthritis.
The drugs registration and pricing higher national committee. which held its meeting at the Ministry of Health in Dubai, was headed by Dr. Amin Al-Amiri, assistant undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health, UAE, Sharjah University, Dubai Healthcare City and Dubai Health Authority, to discuss the recommendations of the subcommittees.
Al-Amiri said some of these innovative drugs were approved for the first time in the region noting that the UAE is one of the first international and regional countries to register modern and innovative drugs in order to provide them for patients and ensure their efficiency and safety.
Some of these medicines are used for the treatment of lung cancer whereas the UAE is the third countries in the world to register such a drug.
The committee also made several clinical studies on two new drugs one for the treatment pediatric diabetes and the other for bone marrow deficiency.
The studies follow international standards and specifications of clinical studies and depend on the ethics of hospitals in this regard.
It is noted that the UAE is one of the main attractive markets in the region due to the availability of innovative companies in the country and their efforts in providing the latest technologies in the health care field.
The committee also approved the prices of 133 new drugs taking into account their lower prices in the region and maintaining the rights of obtaining efficient drugs at affordable prices without any damages to the economies of manufacturers.
The committee also reduced the prices of 4 drugs that were in the UAE market for a long time and at the same time rejected the continuous demands of some companies to increase the prices of 28 other drugs for illogical justifications.
Additionally, the committee approved 26 new drugs industrial sites after their completion to the technical conditions and quality assurance.
The committee also approved the registration of seven industrial sites, which were postponed before after finalizing all technical specifications and conditions.
Members of the committee approved to assign local health authorities to make a suggested study by the Ministry of Health to classify all controlled drugs in order to come out with a new common classification system that would approved all health care providers and partners.
Al-Amiri said: “The committee also discussed the increasing numbers of traded and distributed steroid and hormonal drugs without any surveillance or supervision especially in sports centers. The body-building drugs are very dangerous to the community as they are given without any approved medical prescriptions and are not licensed and may lead to several health problems or infertility. The drugs are sold illegally and do not subject to the supervision of the Ministry of Health or health authorities in the UAE but other bodies. Therefore, the Ministry of Health will address these bodies to stop these practices that are harmful to society.”
UAE green light for new medicine
