Health Ministry approves 85 new drugs

The Ministry of Health has approved 85 new drugs, including medications for autism and diabetes.

ABU DHABI // New diabetes and autism medications are among 85 drugs that have been approved by the Ministry of Health.

The drugs pricing and registration higher committee at the ministry has also reduced the prices of 298 drugs, officials told the state news agency Wam yesterday.

Dr Amin Al Amiri, the assistant undersecretary for medical practices and licensing at the ministry, said the drugs were selected after a thorough study of their effectiveness.

Medications included those for diabetes, autism, respiratory infections and muscle weakness, and anti-coagulants.

Availability of alternatives to these drugs was discussed at the committee's recent meeting in Abu Dhabi to ensure there was sufficient supply.

Officials said they had suspended the registration of injected medicines from an undisclosed Arab company because of errors in registration data.

Although authorities did not identify the company, they said a team of inspectors had been appointed to check its factory and documents.

A decision to introduce another nine new drugs has been postponed because of incomplete information and the lack of international approval.