Scotching speculation, a Ministry of Health official has said the increase in the prices of a number of European medications priced in euro will come into effect on October 15 as planned.

The recent weakening of euro against dollar has resulted in speculation that the UAE health authorities will rethink the price increase announced in July, but this is unlikely, Dr Amin Al Amiri, CEO for Medical Practice and Licensing in the Ministry of Health, said recently.

The 5.85 per cent increase in the prices of 530 European medications for chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, and an increase of 21.4 per cent for 599 European drugs for non-chronic diseases will come into effect on October 15.

“Each company will receive a list of the drugs that are produced by that specific company, and the complete list will remain confidential with the Ministry of Health,” Dr Al Amiri said.

Although the prices of some brands of medicines will increase, this increase will not affect all patients who take these drugs, as the increases will be applied mainly to branded medicines, according to Dr Al Amiri.

“There are several licensed generic alternatives that are much cheaper than the branded medicines and that have the same efficacy,” he said.

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