Ministry Plans Ban on Re-export of Medicines

The UAE is taking measures to combat counterfeit drugs. One of those measures is to ban re-exportation of medication.

An article published this week in Khaleej Times quotes prominent industry and regulatory leaders on the scope of the counterfeit drug trade in the Middle East, the challenges, and current initiatives to combat it.

Below are some key fact listed in the article:

The scope of the counterfeit drug trade and seizures in the Middle East

• Nearly one per cent of the fake medicines detected in the European Union comes from the UAE, said Dr Amin Al Amiri, CEO, Medical Practice and License at the UAE Health Ministry


• During the first five months of 2008, Dubai Customs seized and destroyed 293 tonnes of counterfeit medical products.


• During 2006-2008, the UAE ranked sixth in the region with 36 numbers of raids in which counterfeit medicines were seized. Israel topped the list of 10 countries with 162 raids. “Four other incidents in the UAE discovered goods that were being diverted to another country,” said Ashley How, regional director for Pharmaceutical Security Institute.


• In 2008, $3.1 million worth of Pfizer counterfeit drugs were seized in the region. “It is not only expensive drugs that are duplicated but even common ones such as Ponstan,” said Steve Allen, Pfizer’s senior director for 
Global Security. “This is because people would prefer buying a drug from a known company rather than an unknown,” he said, adding that 30 of the company’s well known drugs including Viagra, Ponstan, Xanax and weight loss drug Lipitor had 
been copied.

Dependence on imports are a challenge

• The expanded volume of imported medical products and medicinal ingredients is a challenge for the country, said Dr Mohammed Abu Elkhair, Head of Pharma/Medicine and Medical Products Regulation Section, Health Authority of Abu Dhabi.


• Only 20 per cent of the medicines needed in the UAE are manufactured locally, thus increasing a chance of counterfeit trade. “Only increased penalties as proposed in the law can help curb the trade,” he said.


• Quoting a recently held study in Abu Dhabi, Dr Elkhair said only 40-50 per cent of the registered medicines are available in the country.

Current Initiatives

• The UAE will soon end re-exporting of medicinal drugs from its ports to curb a growing regional trade in counterfeit products, according to a senior health official.


• The Health Ministry has also increased raids and inspections and toughened punishments against violators. “Two doctors have recently been blacklisted GCC-wide while in 2008 we closed two factories. This year, 35 pharmacies have been shut down for selling fake drugs,” said Dr Amin Al Amiri.


• Other measures taken by the ministry include quality control analysis, inclusion of new technologies to identify fake medicines, tougher imports control, and advertisement control.

To view the article in its entirety, visit: www.khaleejtimes.com.

Khaleej Times: No Country Immune to Menace of Counterfeit Medicines

The following story from the Khaleej Times Online, outlines the overall issue and fight against fake drugs in the UAE. The story in full appears below:

Khaleej Times Online
23 April 2009

DUBAI - Though counterfeit drugs are not readily available in the UAE, they still exist since dealing in fake medicines can be lucrative, say experts.

“In the UAE we don’t see too much, but counterfeit medicines are definitely available. It will always be there. There is big money to be made from dealing in counterfeit medicines and there will always be people who try to exploit this, even if it is at the expense of someone’s life,” he said.

“We are looking at different technologies in the fight against counterfeit medicine,” said Dr Mohammed Abu Elkhair, Head, Pharma/Medicine and Medical Products Regulation Section, Abu Dhabi Health Authority (HAAD).

Providing quality pharmaceutical products to the public is a priority for the health ministries across the region.

“The problem of counterfeit drugs is relevant in the Middle East without being a major cause for concern,” Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Quttami said while inaugurating the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Middle East (PABME) congress and exhibition on Tuesday.

He said the issue is less about fake drugs and more about regulating the market. “Legislation has an important part to play,” he added.

The newly formed Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also aware of the need to maintain a watch over the trade in counterfeit medicines.

Ibrahim Alshowaier, Consultant, SFDA, indicated that a proactive approach should yield best results.

“Counterfeit drugs are a big problem all over the world. It’s not big in Saudi Arabia, but this doesn’t mean we’re immune from the problem. We’re working closely with pharmaceutical companies, the customs people and the police to tackle this issue and maintain vigilance,” he said.

“We’re actively taking measures to block the traffic of counterfeit drugs. For example, we advise customs and the police about what to specifically look for, and we’ll have SFDA personnel operating at border controls and working with the customs officials there. We see this as preventive, and the best way to proceed, rather than targeting the counterfeits once they’re already here,” he added.

However, the UAE Health Minister placed training in the forefront of developing life sciences, specifically the pharmaceutical industry, in
the country.

“The challenges we face in this area are the quality of the industry, and this includes the quality of our human resources available,” he said.

“The people working in this industry need high levels of training, and I think with training, we need to see international practices adopted that will allow us to see solutions developed.

“The pharmaceutical industry will add value to the health services in the country and the region. The economy will benefit also. By providing access to the right level of training, this will be achieved.”

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com