KUWAIT CITY, Nov 21: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has reaffirmed its commitment to implement the decisions of the Gulf Committee for Drug Pricing at the Gulf Health Council by striking a balance between supplying medications at affordable prices and assisting the local pharmaceutical sector. In a press statement Thursday, the ministry stated that the Drug Pricing Committee periodically reduces the prices of medicines based on the studies conducted by the Drug Pricing Department at the Drug Control Sector.

The ministry explained that the main reason behind the drug price reductions is the expiration of the patent for innovative drugs, which causes them to drop by 30 to 80 percent, depending on the country and drug type; while the availability of non-innovative generic drugs and therapeutic alternatives in the local market increases competition and lowers prices. It stressed that the quest to reduce drug prices aims to meet the needs of citizens and expatriates for medicines at reasonable prices, ease the financial burdens of patients, and reduce medical costs for visitors to ensure that they obtain the necessary medicines at reasonable prices.

 It also disclosed that the process of setting drug prices takes into account several variables, such as expenditures on clinical trials, research and development, manufacturing, packaging, transportation, storage, and the use of technology in the industry. Therefore, it is feasible to create flexible pricing models, evaluate market data and enhance the supply chain, it added

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff