By Joseph Varghese
Pharmacies and wholesale distributors in Qatar have reduced the prices of more than 360 medicines considerably, with effect from yesterday, bringing cheer to residents.
According to a cross-section of pharmacy owners, the price reduction ranges from 1- 75%. The prices of chronic medicines for cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension and of pain killers have been reduced considerably.
For example, the price of 10 Voltarin tablets has been reduced from QR36 to QR14.25. Prices of certain medicines for hypertension and diabetes have been reduced by 50% or more. Similarly, 30 Aspirin tablets that were sold for QR10 now cost just QR 3.
The move, according to retailers, is part of efforts to regulate the prices of medicines in uniformity with other GCC countries.
The Pharmacy and Drug Control Department at Qatar’s Supreme Council of Health had earlier issued a circular to retailers and wholesalers to enforce the reduced prices from September 22.
Many pharmacies had made arrangements late on Sunday night to make the changes on prices according to the list of the current and new prices supplied by the officials concerned. Many other pharmacies remained closed yesterday morning and early afternoon making the necessary changes on prices. Drug inspectors were on patrol to make sure that the new prices were in force from yesterday.
Shanmugham Sunder, business development officer of the Care & Cure Pharmacy chain, said that the prices had been reduced significantly. “On an average, we find a reduction of about 25-30% and for individual medicines it ranges from 1- 75%.
The actual number of medicines for which prices have been reduced amounts to about 600 but many of them have been either discontinued or only sold at the hospitals and clinics. We have reduced the prices of about 360 medicines.”
He said: “This move will help people in a big way. Earlier many expatriates used to bring medicines from their countries due to the high prices here. Though the volume of turnover will be reduced for the community pharmacies, many more people will start buying from the local market.
“Another outcome of the move is that it will reduce the heavy dependence on the public health system. Many patients used to approach public hospitals and clinics to get their medicines at subsidised prices. Now, if the prices in community pharmacies are not very high, people will start buying from them.”
An official at Lulu Pharmacy said they had reduced the prices of more than 300 medicines. “We had worked all through Sunday night to make the necessary changes,” he said.
“The new prices must be a welcome surprise for customers. In many cases, they need not bring any medicines from their home countries now as there is considerable decrease in prices in Qatar.”
A patient at Al Naseem Clinic said that it was a great relief for him.
“The prices for drugs have always been a big concern for me as I do not have any medical insurance. With the rising living expenses, it is a great relief for people like me.”
