By Noimot Olayiwola/Staff Reporter
Drug prices in Qatar, which were said to be among the highest in the region, have come down significantly after a new government regulation.
According to sources, the fall in prices is likely the result of a new move announced last April by the Supreme Council of Health and which was approved by the cabinet, to regulate the drug market.
The law, which liberalised the drug market, had a provision for government intervention if the prices were jacked up considerably.
Health authorities have claimed that the new law, which allows all registered and licensed importers as well as drug importers to fix the retail prices of the medicines as against the earlier practice of price control by the council, would bring down prices and ensure continuous supply.
However, some of the retail pharmacies across Qatar had expressed reservations over the new drug law, saying the market was already “too fragile and was suffering from high rents and overhead costs.”
Inquiries by Gulf Times found that the prices had actually gone up instead of coming down shortly after the introduction of the new law in April last year.
“It is true that the prices of medicines have gone down after a brief hike experienced immediately after the liberalisation rule was announced last year. And to ensure that we beat down the prices, the SCH has issued a new price list to all distributors,” a local pharmacy employee said.
He said the changes in prices are noticeable as some medications that cost around QR100 before now sell for between QR80-90 while those sold for QR44 and above earlier cost less.
According to him, Ventolin spray used by asthmatics, which used to cost QR42.75 is now available for QR40.50 and a packet of 24 caplets of a particular brand of analgesic now costs QR4.50, much less than earlier.
Other drugs such as antibiotics from a popular manufacturer now costs QR132.75 for a packet of 14 tablets against QR150 in the past and an antibiotics suspension powder of 70ml is now down to QR50.50 from around QR70.
Some medications for treating hypertension that used to be QR18 per strip is now QR16 and the prices of some diabetes control medications are now down to QR20.
