GCC moves to streamline drug licensing

The Gulf countries are centralising procedures to register pharmaceutical companies and drugs to streamline the licensing process at the regional level.

The GCC Central Drug Registration Committee met here yesterday to discuss several issues related to the registration and distribution of medicines in the Gulf.

Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Assistant Undersecretary for Preventive Medicines at the Ministry of Health (MoH), opened the weeklong event. Dr Easa Al Mansouri, Director of the Drug Control Department, and representatives of the GCC health ministries were also present.

The main task of the committee is to evaluate the applications submitted by the pharmaceutical companies which want to take part in the GCC's yearly tender for medicine distribution.

"The companies wishing to take part in the GCC tender must register their names and products. Its task is to streamline the procedures for licensing to make sure they comply with international standards."

A team formed by the committee will visit pharmaceutical factories and their laboratories to ensure they comply with the Good Manufacturing Practices, and WHO and international standards on production.

"In the coming days the committee will evaluate the applications and establish terms of inspections. Only companies which abide by the requirements will be licensed and admitted to the tender bidding."

He said the meeting will evaluate a report on a new central referral laboratory to be accredited in Oman. The GCC makes use of three central laboratories in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The three centres are in charge of conducting post marketing evaluations on drugs already available in the market.

Meanwhile, Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Madfa, the UAE Minister of Health, met Dr Hajar bin Ahmad Al Banali, the Qatari Health Minister, here yesterday for their third common ministerial meeting to discuss cooperation in several health fields.

"The meeting is in line with the good relations and cooperation which exists between the two countries," said Al Madfa in his opening speech.

"The meeting aims to follow up on the recommendations of the UAE-Qatari joint Higher Health Committee held recently in Abu Dhabi and will also review reports of the joint technical health committees."

He said members of the joint committees were appointed earlier and given tasks already assigned.