DOHA: Government control on pricing of medicines would go and imports would be liberalized with issuance of a series of laws organising the pharmaceutical sector.
The Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday issued Law No. 6 of 2011 annulling law No. 7 of 1990 on the pricing system of medicines and pharmaceuticals and monitoring of their prices. The Deputy Emir also issued Law No. 5 of 2011 amending some provisions of law No. 1 of 1986 on the registration of medicines and its products.
Law No. 4 of 2011 amending some provisions of law No. 3 of 1983 organising the professions of pharmacy, middlemen and agencies of medical companies and factories was also issued yesterday.
The revised rules seek to liberalise imports of medicines by ending the monopoly enjoyed by a few exclusive agents in the market. The market will now be open to competition allowing more businessmen to enter the industry. This is expected to result in a fall in the prices and increased availability of all types of medicines in the country.
The new laws are being enacted in the context of Qatar's public health strategy 2011-2016 and follow a comprehensive study conducted by the SCH on the drug market in the country in response to public complaints about the high prices and non-availability of some types of drugs.
Although exclusive dealerships for medicines will be abolished, the issuance of new import licences will be subject to strict regulations and standards to ensure the safety and quality of medicines. Currently the wholesale and retail prices of all pharmaceutical products are fixed by the department, giving a 10 percent profit margin to importers and a nearly 30 percent margin to retailers.
© The Peninsula 2011
