FNC Speaker Saqr Ghobash calls for reduction in drug prices in UAE

During its third session, chaired by Saqr Ghobash (Speaker of the Council), the Federal National Council called for drug prices to be reduced, particularly for innovative drugs. This would be achieved through cooperation and coordination with the global pharmaceutical companies that manufacture these drugs.

During the discussion of the government's policy on achieving national security for the pharmaceutical and medical supplies industries, the FNC, represented by the Committee on Technology, Energy, Mineral Resources and Public Utilities, identified 19 recommendations. These include strategic stockpiling of active pharmaceutical ingredients sufficient for at least five years, in cooperation with the pharmaceutical industry according to manufacturing needs; specialisation in production at national pharmaceutical factories, with priority given to innovative biological drugs through partnerships with international factories, encouraging insurance companies to include local medical products in their coverage, prioritising local medical products in government tenders, and developing an awareness strategy to raise community awareness of the importance and quality of national pharmaceutical industries.

The FNC also called for the establishment of specialised national institutes, the development of academic and applied programmes in pharmaceutical industry professions, and the creation of a comprehensive strategy to attract national talent to the pharmaceutical industry sector. Furthermore, the Council called for the strengthening of cooperation between academic institutions and health facilities through the establishment of specialised clinical research units and advanced laboratories and research centres in the country to support research and development processes in the pharmaceutical industry sector.

The Council recommended the establishment of specialised research funding to support innovation in the pharmaceutical sector, the attraction of research competencies and specialised skills in pharmaceutical industries, and the establishment of a unified national data platform. It also recommended the enhancement of cooperation between government and local authorities, academic institutions, hospitals, and pharmaceutical factories, the launch of public awareness campaigns to warn against the dangers of purchasing medicines from unofficial sources, the tracking of the sources of medicine sales and purchases through websites, and the setting of approved and announced standards for website licensing.

The Federal National Council also called for locally manufactured generic drugs to be included among the medical products covered by the fast-track marketing approval process set out in the executive regulations being prepared for the law. This is in line with Article 14 of Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2024. The Council also called for a national unit to be established within the Emirates Drug Authority to harmonise international accreditation and enhance cooperation with various relevant bodies.

This will be achieved by signing agreements and memoranda of understanding, and by providing effective investment incentives through the incentives and benefits system to be issued by the Cabinet pursuant to Article 30 of Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2024.

The FNC further stressed the importance of including clear provisions in Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2024 relating to medical products, the pharmacy profession and establishments, and the circulation, licensing and oversight of herbal products and traditional remedies.