Doha
In a move that will benefit all the segments of the society, the prices of 457 medicines have been reduced at all pharmacies in Qatar with effect from last Friday, the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) announced Sunday.
The reduction of prices range between 79.25% and 0.45% while the average percentage of the cut is 28.48%. This is the second phase of reduction of the prices of medicines in the country, with the objective of unifying the import prices for medicines among the GCC countries.
The second phase includes generic medicines for the most common chronic diseases in the GCC countries, which are the cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal, skin, and gastrointestinal diseases. The number of the generic medicines in this phase is 652 of which the price of 457 will be cut.
During the second half of the current year, SCH will reduce the prices of about 1,820 medicines for nervous system diseases, obstetrics and gynaecology diseases, infectious diseases, ear, nose and throat diseases, medical lotions and vitamins, respiratory system diseases, anaesthetics, tumors and cancers, immunity diseases, and eye diseases.
SCH had reduced the prices of 602 innovative medicines from September 18, 2014. The percentage of the cut in the sale price to the public for most of the medicines in this group ranged from 30% and 40%. The highest cut percentage was about 75%.
Innovative medicine is the medicine produced by a pharmaceutical company and for which it holds a patent right for a number of years, after which the door is opened for the other companies to produce the same medicine under a different name, which is known as a generic medicine.
Unifying the import price for medicines aims mainly to provide high quality medicines at affordable prices. Applying the new prices of medicines in Qatar comes in compliance with the decision of the GCC Supreme Council in 2006 with regard to unifying the import price for medicines among the GCC countries, using dollar currency, and in enforcement of the decision no. (7) for 2013 of the 74th meeting of the GCC health ministers regarding the start of applying a unified import price for medicines among the council's countries.
