UAE: Patients across the country may soon pay less for selected medicines after the Emirates Drug Establishment issued a decision reducing the retail prices of 168 pharmaceutical products.
The new prices will take effect on May 30 and will apply across the UAE. The decision covers medicines used for chronic and critical illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension, cancer, cholesterol disorders, cardiovascular diseases, stroke prevention, asthma, eye diseases, and psychological and neurological conditions.
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Which Medicines Are Covered by the Price Cut?
The price reduction includes several types of medicines in different dosages and forms. These include treatments for long-term health conditions that many residents manage every month.
For expats and Filipino residents who regularly buy maintenance medicines, this may help reduce monthly health costs. However, patients should check directly with pharmacies to confirm the revised price of their specific medicine.
The discounts vary by medicine. Some reductions are around 5%, while selected high-cost vital and biologic medicines may see price cuts of nearly 60%.
Big Cuts Seen in Cholesterol and Eye Medicines
One of the largest reductions listed is for Zocor 40 mg, a medicine used to help lower cholesterol. Its price reduction is around 59.5%.
Xalatan, which is prescribed for patients with high eye pressure or glaucoma, also recorded a major cut of about 51.7%.
Other eye care medicines, such as GANFORT and Combigan eye drops, are also included in the revised pricing.
Diabetes, Blood Pressure, and Heart Medicines Included
Several medicines for Type 2 diabetes are part of the price update. These include Amaryl in different dosages.
Blood pressure medicines also account for a major portion of the list. These include Renitec, Aprovel, Lercadip, and SEVIKAR.
Medicines for chronic heart failure are also covered, including different dosages of Verquvo.
Cancer, Stroke Prevention, Asthma, and Mental Health Treatments Also Affected
The decision also includes selected cancer medicines, including Alunbrig and Xeloda. Some Alunbrig dosages have large price reductions because of their high treatment cost.
Modern anticoagulants and blood thinners used to help prevent thrombosis and stroke are also covered, including Pradaxa.
The list also includes asthma and immunology treatments such as Nucala, as well as medicines for psychological and neurological disorders, including Invega and Zeldox.
Next Steps
Residents who take long-term medicines should check their medicine names, dosage, and current price before their next pharmacy visit.
From May 30, pharmacies are expected to sell the listed medicines at the revised prices. Patients should not change or stop any prescribed medicine just because of a price change. For safety, ask your doctor or pharmacist if the cheaper listed medicine applies to your treatment plan.
