Muscat – The Ministry of Health (MoH) issued a clarification about the higher prices of medicines in the pharmaceutical market in Oman and the difference in prices as compared to other countries. The ministry stated that it continuously reviews prices and monitors the application of approved prices by private pharmacies.

In a statement, MoH said, ‘The prices of the mentioned medicines have been reviewed and approved by the Gulf Pricing Committee, which was formed in implementation of the decision of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council in its first session (Riyadh, December 2006).’

‘It decided to approve the unification of the import price (cost, insurance and freight CIF) for medicines to the GCC countries in a single currency, which is the US dollar. The price is also approved after comparing with the prices of more than thirty countries whose markets are similar to those of the Gulf states,’ it added.

‘The ministry sets the prices for exporting these medicines to the sultanate and the prices for selling them to the public in the private sector within specific mechanisms in this regard through direct negotiations with the pharmaceutical manufacturers and not with local agents. The ministry also continuously reviews prices and monitors the application of approved prices by private pharmacies,’ MoH stated.

The ministry confirmed that it pays great attention to ensuring the availability of safe and effective quality medicine at an appropriate price for citizens and residents in Oman. ‘The pricing of medicines is among the regulatory procedures carried out by the ministry within the drug supply chain, which begins with the registration of drug manufacturers and ensuring their application of the international principles of drug manufacturing,’ MoH stated.