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The SFDA Forms a Team to Discus Models for Drug Pricing With the World Bank

2006-12-16

The SFDA uncovered the forming of a team named "Drug Pricing", which includes representatives from the Ministry of Health, Department of Medical Services at the National Guard, Ministry of Health Department of Health Services, National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud University College of Pharmacy and specialists in drug economics.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Kanhal, President of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, has clarified that the authority seeks through it's duties to review the drug sector's regulations and guidelines. Ensuring that drug pricing is one of the duties of the drug sector and thus providing reasonably priced drugs to citizens.

Dr. Al-Kanhal has stated that the drug sector recently completed an integrated program to benefit from international expertise in this area. Dr. Andreas Seter, a drug expert from the World Bank, has hosted several workshops, held many meetings regarding drug pricing with relevant sectors and the drug pricing work team. In addition, Dr. Seter held four long meetings with; the drug pricing advisory committee, mangers of drug company's scientific offices, representatives of local drug manufacturers and a number of insurance companies by coordinating with Riyadh's Chamber of Commerce.    

Dr. Al-Kanhal stressed the importance of having a system for reviewing drug prices on a regular basis. He also stressed the importance of building solid relationships with drug manufacturers to ensure reasonable pricing of drugs, especially new drugs. Moreover Dr. Al-Kanhal pointed that the work team will continue to search for drug pricing models and discuss the outcome with the World Bank expert. Dr. Seter will also study the report compiled by the work team and all possible options, hoping the SFDA will adopt the options in the near future.

Dr. Saleh Bawazier, Vice President of Dug Sector stated that the drug sector is building a Saudi drug oversight organization through a strategic plan which ensures the availability of effective drugs with reasonable prices.

Dr. Bawazier, explained that during Dr. Andreas Seter visit to the Kingdom he presented the international basics of drug pricing and models used by the European Union and other nations.  Dr. Seter pointed out that the goals behind these models are; benefiting from appropriate drug pricing which depends on health policies in each nation, the availability of medical insurance, size of domestic drug manufacturing and quantity of imported drugs. Therefore designing a model that achieves appropriate pricing of drugs for both consumers and manufacturers.

The Authority