Ministry of Health & Prevention signs agreement with Neopharma Drug Factory to increase emergency medicine inventory

UAE, October 21, 2017- The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) recently signed an agreement with Neopharma Factory to provide some medical stocks used for emergency situations, including 103 types of pharmaceutical products, medicines for emergency cases and other medicines to further enhance the health security of the country following the directives under the Council of Ministers No. 39 of 2015.

H.E. Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of Public Health Policy and Licensing of the Ministry of Health & Prevention, accompanied by Dr. Abdul Karim Abdullah Al Zarouni, Director of the Department of Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Operations, signed the agreement on behalf of the Ministry while Suresh Kumar Nandirajo, Chief Operating Officer of Neopharma, signed for the company.

Stock of medicine covering one year
Dr. Amin Al Amiri noted that MOHAP continuously strengthens its medicine supply by signing agreements with drug manufacturers following the decision of the Council of Ministers No. 39 of 2015. The agreement with Neopharma is part of our efforts to improve health and medical security, and enable us to immediately respond to emergencies through the acquisition of strategic medical stocks for the Ministry's stores. This covers our requirements for one year, including stocks for three months that are readily available in the form of finished goods while the remaining quantity will be in the form of raw materials that will be used in the medicines’ manufacturing process.

Dr. Amin emphasized that the Ministry works towards building quality and safety systems for treatment, health and medicine in accordance with international standards and envisions to promote a healthy society by providing comprehensive and innovative health services and that the Ministry implements a regulatory and auditor role in the health sector following an advanced and integrated health legislative system. He added that the support and partnership with pharmaceutical manufacturers such as NeoPharma contributes to the promotion and sustainability of healthcare infrastructure.

Pharmaceutical products included in the agreement
Dr. Abdul-Karim Al-Zarouni explained that the agreement also sets a mechanism for recycling stocks and constantly offers fresh goods to consumers while maintaining the overall stock quantity required. The ministry is responsible for storing and maintaining medical stocks according to the global storage and recycling standards.

The list of medicines included in the agreement comprise a total of 103 drug categories, including 27 for the treatment of infections, 22 for diseases of the ear nose and throat, 13 types of medicines for the treatment of respiratory diseases, nine items for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, nine for chronic diseases, eight for gastrointestinal diseases, six for the urinary tract, gynecology and obstetrics, four for blood diseases and malnutrition, four for bone diseases and one medicine for diseases of the nervous system.

Suresh Kumar said the company is committed to serving the pharmaceutical manufacturing in the UAE, and commented: "We are honored to work with the Ministry of Health and Prevention to provide vital medical supplies that benefit the community during times of crisis, and to allow effective approaches to manage health care costs, increase access to essential medicines and contribute to the strengthening of the pharmacoeconomy in the country.