Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi (SHP)

Abu Dhabi, Feb 19: The Ministry of Health and Prevention has slashed down the prices of 573 medicines, between 2 per cent and 74 per cent in cooperation with 97 major local and international pharmaceutical manufacturers. This move is an initiative which is considered to be the largest, in quantity and quality, over several years.

The ministerial decision issued by Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Community Protection showed that the drugs covered under the initiative deal with treating chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory system, some of which relate to treatments for children.

According to the decision, the highest reduction in the prices of the drugs covered ranged from 47 per cent to 68 per cent, while the lowest reduction was between 2 per cent and 10 per cent, while most reduced drugs came in with a reduction of more than 50 per cent, the Khaleej Times reported.

This initiative is in line with the 2011 collaboration with pharmaceutical companies to ease the financial burden on patients and contribute to their access to the world's best and most modern drugs at affordable prices.