August 09, 2021:  The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), represented by HE Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Board of trustees, presided over the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of the pharmaceutical sector in the UAE. 

The meeting, held via video conference, was attended by representatives of health authorities, local and international pharmaceutical companies, local distributors, private pharmacies, and drug policy experts at the Ministry.

The meeting discussed means of enhancing joint efforts to consolidate the capabilities of the pharmaceutical sector and support the national pharmaceutical industries. The importance of coordination between the parties was also discussed especially in relation to pharmaceutical policies and legislation, preparing executive plans for regulating the circulation of pharmaceutical products to ensure the protection of public health, and identifying and analyzing challenges and changes in the pharmaceutical market to ensure the response to the national needs of pharmaceutical products. 
Encouraging innovation and investing in the pharmaceutical sector was also on the meeting agenda in order to ensure the continued growth and development of the pharmaceutical market and the safety of medicines in the country.

Discussions also tackled the ministerial decision on the use of information and data for innovative pharmaceutical products, which grants innovative medicines protection for its data for 8 years. Such a decision would contribute to attracting innovative medicines to the country, enhancing the healthcare sector with curative and preventive solutions that serve the interests of patients, and support medical tourism.  

Balanced pharmaceutical sector
The ministry is keen to enhance cooperation and improve productivity in the field of medicine and medical supplies and to continue strengthening the attractiveness of legislative and investment environment to, thanks to the facilities and privileges which pave the way for establishing more competitive medical industries, said Dr. Amin Al Amiri.

He encouraged international pharmaceutical companies to apply for marketing approval for their products in the UAE before being approved in the manufacturing country, allowing to pre-study the file to issue the marketing approval for innovative products and rare medicines once they are approved by one of the reference authorities, as was the case with the GSK's Sotrovimab drug for the treatment of some cases of Covid-19, and Amgen's Lumakras the treatment of advanced lung cancer.

Enhancing the state's global reputation 
According to the ministerial resolution, national factories can start manufacturing procedures and apply for marketing approval for similar products during the two years preceding the end of the protection period for the innovative product, Al Amiri noted.
He called on local factories to tap into this support to market their products in the country as soon as the innovative product protection period ends, highlighting the exceptions set forth in the resolution, such as emergency situations and cases in which the right holder to market an innovative product has given his approval to manufacture a similar product.

Common vision
Representatives of health authorities, local and international pharmaceutical companies, local distributors and private pharmacies stressed the importance of building a common vision and practical plans to enhance joint cooperation and support the state's plans to protect community health and enable patients to obtain safe medicine. 

They reaffirmed their commitment to developing and improving the pharmaceutical sector in a responsible manner to meet the current health challenges with preventive future plans and to strengthen the pharmaceutical economy system in the UAE and the strategic partnership between international drug companies and local factories.