|
|
Friday, 9 June
2017 | ArabMedicare.com | Staff Reporter |
|
|
|
|
|
UAE Ministry of Health &
Prevention partners with
Jafza to develop
pharmaceutical sector
(Dubai) -
The UAE
Ministry of Health and
Prevention and Jafza, a DP
World company, have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) for the development of
the healthcare and
pharmaceutical sector in the
country.
The Memorandum was signed at
Jafza head office by Dr.
Amin Hussein Al Amiri,
Assistant Under Secretary of
Public Health and Licensing
Policy at the Ministry of
Health and Protection and
Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO
Jafza and Senior Vice
President and General
Manager of DP World, UAE
Region. Senior Ministry and
Jafza officials were also
present.
Under the agreement, Jafza
will develop details for the
licensing of pharmaceutical
factories within the Free
Zone and help them promote
public health. The Ministry
will approve licenses for
existing factories based on
the industrial license
issued by Jafza, regardless
of the nationality of their
owners. Factories need to
register their products and
declare whether they are for
export or distribution. For
use in the UAE companies
need to obtain a medical
warehouse license. Both
organisations will exchange
knowledge and remove any
barriers to the development
of the pharmaceutical sector
in the Free Zone. They will
also review the process of
obtaining approvals and
permits from the Ministry,
enabling Jafza to attract
more foreign investment in
the sector. The agreement is
part of Jafza's
efforts to enhance the
healthcare sector by
providing the environment
for companies to grow and
establish ‘Made in Dubai’
pharmaceutical products,
using Jebel Ali’s
infrastructure to access
regional and international
markets.
DP World Group Chairman and
CEO, Sultan Ahmed bin
Sulayem, said: "This
is a major step forward in
efforts to raise the
competitiveness of the
pharmaceutical industry in
the country. It is one of
the key sectors of the Dubai
Industrial Strategy launched
by His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice President and
Prime Minister of the UAE
and Ruler of Dubai. It is
also a key part of the Dubai
2021 Plan, aimed at
transforming Dubai into a
regional hub for medical
tourism as the country
prepares for the post-oil
era. The ultimate aim is to
manufacture high quality
medicines and healthcare
products in Dubai comparable
to those around the world
with our focus on boosting
investment in research and
development, and attracting
qualified professionals."
Dr. Amin Al Amiri said the
agreement builds on
cooperation between federal
and local government
institutions to promote a
legislative and investment
environment in keeping with
international best practice.
The UAE aims to become a
global hub for international
pharmaceutical companies and
to encourage them to set up
factories here. There are 54
international pharmaceutical
companies already present in
the freezone which is
expected to rise to over 75
by 2021, with investments of
up to AED 2 billion
annually. He added that the
Ministry is keen to partner
with international companies
to establish research
centers for the production
of innovative and generic
drugs in cooperation with
local factories. The plan is
to secure medical supplies
and provide medicines for
patients, especially those
suffering from chronic
diseases as well as to
ensure the sustainability of
the pharmaceutical supply
chain and capacity of the
medical sector.
In 2016, the market value of
drugs in the UAE amounted to
AED 9.61 billion. By 2020,
spending on medicine is
expected to reach AED 13.13
billion and by 2025 AED
21.74 billion, driven by
population growth, changing
morbidity and the use of
modern medicines such as
biotechnology drugs. The UAE
currently has 17
pharmaceutical factories
with 34 expected by 2021.
The Ministry supports them
in establishing strategic
partnerships with
international manufacturers
to produce innovative
medicines and has five such
agreements in place. The
total medicine market in UAE
reached AED 9.61 Billion in
2016, according to a recent
report by Business Monitor
International. It predicts
that the medical equipment
market in the Middle East
and North Africa will grow
8.8% year-on-year from
2015-2020, opening up
opportunities for health
care and pharmaceutical
companies.
Multinational companies in
the healthcare and
pharmaceutical sector are
currently based in Jafza,
such as Johnson & Johnson,
Colgate, Roche, Sanofi,
GlaxoSmithKline and Quest
Vitamins.
PRINT
THIS ARTICLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|