Ministry of Health and Prevention receives Pfizer delegates for innovative medicines

UAE, June 4 2016 - Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) Minister H.E. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais recently received a high level delegation from Pfizer’s Global Innovative Pharma division led by Ms. Nanette Cocero, Pfizer’s Regional President for Emerging Markets, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Dubai.

The meeting was held in the presence of MOHAP’s senior officials H.E. Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Policy and Licensing; H.E. Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospitals Sector and H.E. Dr. Nasser Khalifa Al Budoor, Assistant Undersecretary and Director of the Minister Office, while senior delegates from Pfizer included Mr. Menassie Tadesse, Regional Lead, Africa and Middle East – Global Innovative Pharmaceuticals; Dr. Zeydan Abuissa, General Manager, Pfizer Gulf & Levant; Dr. Nadia Younis, Director, Public Affairs and Communication and Dr. Mohammed Fawzi, Cluster Lead Innovative Medicines Pharma.

During the meeting, H.E. Al Owais underscored the existing strategic partnership between MOHAP and Pfizer and the Ministry’s keenness to develop regulations and legislations, which will allow global pharmaceutical firms to take advantage of the country’s positive environment for investments and create a highly specialized sector focused on biopharmaceuticals and innovative medicines in partnership with the local pharmaceutical industry. H.E. Al Owais also cited the Ministry’s initiative to develop an electronic systems for medicines’ registration and control for import, supply and prescribing channels, additionally to lead awareness campaigns to reinforce the fight against counterfeit drugs & medicines abuse.

The UAE is leading the region in terms of approving innovative medicines, which is in line with the Ministry's goal to provide quality healthcare services in the UAE and in accordance with the international standards, H.E. Al Owais added.

Pfizer’s Ms. Cocero reiterated Pfizer’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions to the most pressing health care challenges. She also commended the UAE’s health policies to advance healthcare and serve patients better. Cocero noted that Pfizer will continue applying science and resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. She commented that collaboration will bring the best results and Pfizer is delighted to take part in the government’s efforts to ensure patients have access to innovative medicines while protecting the communities in which we work and live." Ms. Cocero also pointed out that the UAE is one of the very first countries in the world to register Pfizer innovative medicines upon adoption of the U.S Food and Drug Administration FDA.

Dr. Amin Al Amiri mentioned the mutual interest to organize an international conference on combatting counterfeit medicines in collaboration with Pfizer Global Inc. at the beginning of 2017 with an estimated attendance of more than 1,500 participants from across the region, building on the success of the 1st regional conference held in 2009. The conference will support the ministry's efforts to combat counterfeit medicines and will help in raising awareness among the UAE’s Community regarding counterfeit medicines and abuse. The conference will discuss best strategies for medication monitoring & supply chain integrity and will facilitate exchanging information and expertise among stakeholders in order to enhance the collaboration channels to ensure best outcomes. Worth to mention that counterfeit medicines is a global issue of fake medicines with an estimated market of $100 billion annually.

H.E. also assured the Ministry’s commitment to building a world-class regulatory frameworks, infrastructure and systems to encourage global pharmaceutical companies, research centers, and industry stakeholders to launch innovative projects in the UAE as well as to produce new pharmaceutical products in collaboration with local companies to ensure the availability of high-quality and affordable medicines in UAE. This will provide patients in UAE, especially those suffering from chronic diseases, the access to innovative and cost-effective medicines. To date, about 8,100 different drug classes have been made highly affordable as a result of various government initiatives and support from global pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer.